The Los Angeles Lakers finally got a win, thanks to a Kyle Kuzma game-winner. With 4.5 seconds left on the clock, LeBron James inbounded the ball to Anthony Davis. The Nuggets players expected him to post up, but he provided a handoff to Kuzma who buried it from the three-point line. 7′ 2″ Bol Bol came charging to close down the shot, but he Kuzma was able to shoot over him.
WHAT A SHOT BY KUZMA 🤯 pic.twitter.com/l0KKnjfJOd
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) August 11, 2020
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Later Kuzma said, “I think Jesus could be in front of me and I’d probably still shoot,” during the post-game interview. Reacting to it live in the NBA on TNT studio was Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal, who couldn’t help but giggle. “I’ve seen Jesus play before and hopefully Jesus don’t shut his ass down next game,” Shaq said, as he burst out laughing.
Kyle Kuzma predicted he would win the game
Mike Trudell from Spectrum SportsNet reported that Kuzma had told his teammate Talen Horton-Tucker that he’d be “calling game.”
* @kylekuzma said he told rookie @Thortontucker that he was “calling game” in the huddle before the final play in which he caught the ball from @AntDavis23 after slipping a screen and buried the open 3, a play they’d worked on in practice.
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) August 11, 2020
It was Kyle Kuzma’s game, and there was nothing the Nuggets could do about it. He continued his fine form as he notched up 26 points. It was his fourth 25 point game of the season, and it came in clutch. He shot 11/16 from the field and went 3/5 from deep.
Kuzma is usually absent on defense, but tonight he was determined to make a difference. He ended up getting two steals to cap off a solid all-round performance.
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The Lakers had been on a shooting slump in the six games, but Kuzma had been their only bright spot. He was averaging 13.8 points prior to this game, but he doubled in production tonight. With the playoffs nearing, the Lakers will have an enormous morale boost from this win, and Kuzma will also be happy with his form.
The Lakers will now face the Sacramento Kings in their last game and will be satisfied with nothing but a win.
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Sources: NBA on TNT on Twitter, Mike Trudell on Twitter, Lakers vs Nuggets, Basketball-Reference