Lakers vs. Nuggets final score: Lakers' third-quarter collapse leads to 119-101 loss

The Los Angeles Lakers hung in through a half of basketball in Denver, but the Nuggets came out firing through the second half in a 119-101 loss for the purple and gold. The Lakers trailed by four going into halftime, and even tied Denver in the third quarter, but by the time it was over Los Angeles was looking at a 22-point deficit heading into the final frame.

Danilo Gallinari's three-point shooting was a huge boon for the Nuggets. Gallinari drained seven three-point attempts, ending the night with 27 points as he plucked away at the Lakers' defense from long-range. Kenneth Faried played a light 29 minutes but ended up with a game-high 29 points with 11 rebounds.

Rookie Jordan Clarkson had a so-so-game, tacking on to his box score after taking an extended break on the bench once the Nuggets started pulling away in the second half. Jordan checked back in late in the fourth quarter, finishing with 21 points and nine assists. Newly-signed backup guard Dwight Buycks played an extended role, scoring 15 points off the bench while Jeremy Lin sat out with a knee injury.

A back-to-back in Denver is never easy, and while the Lakers looked like they might just go against the odds, the Nuggets rolled right over them. The fourth-worst record in the league is now clinched, and the tank is almost ready to put it in park. Next up, a game back in Los Angeles against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday.