The Los Angeles Lakers dropped their fourth-straight game on Friday, falling to the Denver Nuggets in a critical Western Conference game. These two teams entered the game tied in the loss column, and it was Denver who came out on top despite an impressive effort from the shorthanded Lakers.
Without LeBron James, Luka Doncic and several other key players, Los Angeles kept the game close before eventually falling 131-126. It was an and-one basket from three-time MVP Nikola Jokic that sparked an 8-0 run for Denver to close the game.
Singly covered by Christian Koloko, Jokic went to work and finished through contact.
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) and Los Angeles Lakers center Christian Koloko (10)
© Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
Speaking with reporters after the game, Lakers head coach JJ Redick took the blame for Jokic being able to exploit this matchup.
“JJ Redick says ‘I’ll take ownership’ of Jokic scoring the and-one layup to tie the game,” ESPN’s Dave McMenamin posted on X. “He said he went onto the floor to check on Knecht and then didn’t substitute the way he should have with the time crunch in the timeout.”
JJ Redick says “I’ll take ownership” of Jokic scoring the and-one layup to tie the game. He said he went onto the floor to check on Knecht and then didn’t substitute the way he should have with the time crunch in the timeout.
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) March 15, 2025
While Redick took the blame, this call was controversial among fans.
“nah it was refs fault don’t sweat it coach,” a fan stated.
“That’s not your fault at all,” a fan added. “The refs bailed them tf out wtf.”
“That was all the refs,” another comment read. “Jokic alone shot more ft than our whole team.”
“That’s not your fault refs on bs,” added another fan.
JJ took ownership of that Jokic and-1 that tied the game late in the 4th
He also added:
“The last play, no comment on that one” pic.twitter.com/15y4Evxf8L
— Oh No He Didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) March 15, 2025
While Lakers fans did not think it was a foul, the NBA has since broken its silence on the play. Releasing a Last Two Minute Report, the league confirmed that play was ruled correctly.
“Koloko’s (LAL) arm is not vertical when the contact occurs with Jokic’s (DEN) arm, altering his shot attempt near the rim,” the NBA wrote.
This was not the only controversial play involving Jokic in the final minute.
On Jamal Murray’s go-ahead 3-point basket, many fans felt Jokic set an illegal screen. The NBA also release an explanation on that play, deeming the contact marginal.
“Jokic (DEN) and Knecht (LAL) engage off-ball before the pick on the perimeter, and the contact is marginal,” the NBA wrote.