Doncic just had arguably his best game so far as a Laker on Thursday. He scored 45 points on 14-of-27 field-goal shooting and 7-of-13 from 3-point range, and he also grabbed 11 rebounds, three assists, two steals and one block. The Lakers next game will be on Sunday afternoon versus the Phoenix Suns at home.

The Los Angeles Lakers are shorthanded with Luka Doncic and others out, leaving Austin Reaves to lead the way against the Denver Nuggets.

Hometown kid Dalton Knecht helped out the Lakers with 32 points in a starting role. The Nuggets couldn’t defend, but they found enough buckets in the end.

Even with this news, the Nuggets still have a game to play and they can't overlook the Lakers. But Denver has their own star players listed on the injury report. Center Nikola Jokic and guard Jamal Murray are both on the injury report entering the game.