The host Los Angeles Lakers beat the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday, 120 - 116. For the Lakers (16 - 34), three players scored at least 20 points en route to the high - offense win. Most notably, sophomore point guard D'Angelo Russell had one of his better games of the season, scoring 22 and dishing out 10 assists with only two turnovers. Russell was just one of the bevvy of Lakers guards who had a strong showing on Tuesday. Veteran Nick Young drained five three - pointers and scored a team - high 23 points. Off the bench, sixth man Lou Williams scored another 21 for the Lakers while dishing another seven assists. The Lakers were the beneficiaries of a cold Denver team, as the Nuggets shot just 41 percent and looked frozen in the third quarter. Denver (21 - 25), meanwhile, had some key absences on Tuesday. Star center Nikola Jokic (hip) and point guard Emmanuel Mudiay (hamstring) both missed the contest. Jokic's absence meant no shortage of rebounds for forward Kenneth Faried, who gobbled up 17 boards to lead the team. Thanks in large part to Faried's effort, the Nuggets established a 51 - 44 advantage on the offensive glass. With Jokic out, however, the Nuggets saw some lackluster offense, particularly during stretches in the second half. The team shot only 41 percent, despite knocking down 15 - of - 27 from beyond the three - point line. Denver will host the Grizzlies on Wednesday, while the Lakers will visit Washington on Thurdsay.
["PlayerStat(G,'Kenneth Faried') has 17 Assists ."
 "PlayerStat(G,'Nick Young') has 5 Assists ,has 23 Blocks ."
 "PlayerStat(G,'D'Angelo Russell') has 10 Assists ,has 1 Blocks ,has 1 3-pointers made ,has 1 Offensive rebounds ,has 22 Personal fouls ,has 1 Points ,has 2 Total rebounds ."
 "PlayerStat(G,'Lou Williams') has 7 Assists ,has 21 Blocks ."]