Sunday night, the Denver Nuggets were short-handed.
But that was their own choice.
Nuggets head coach Michael Malone sat four of his starters and Denver blew a 13-point lead after three quarters and fell to the Los Angeles Lakers, 146-141 in overtime, in the regular season finale on Sunday at Ball Arena.
Denver led 108-95 heading to the fourth quarter. The Lakers came all the way back behind Malik Monk's career-high 41 points and Austin Reaves, who had career-bests with 31 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists.
Nikola Jokic, Aaron Gordon, Will Barton and Monte Morris all stayed on the bench for the Nuggets, who had seven players score in double figures. Markus Howard scored a career-high 25 points. Bryn Forbes added 24 points and hit 5-of-11 three-point attempts.
The Nuggets close out the season 48-34 and the sixth seed in the Western Conference.
MORE ON THE NUGGETS LOSS HERE
Denver will start the playoffs with a match-up against the third-seeded Golden St. Warriors. Game one will be on Saturday, April 16 at 6;30 p.m. MDT.
Postgame comments from Nuggets guard Bryn Forbes.
Postgame comments from Nuggets center DeMarcus Cousins.