DENVER (AP) — Malik Monk had a career-best 41 points and Austin Reaves set career highs with 31 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a 146-141 overtime victory over the Denver Nuggets on Sunday night in what might have been Frank Vogel’s final game as coach.
ESPN reported after the game that Vogel, who led the team to the 2020 title in the Orlando bubble, will be let go as early as Monday.
“My reaction is I haven’t been told (anything) and I’m going to enjoy tonight’s game,” Vogel said when asked about the report. “Celebrate what these young guys did in terms of scratching and clawing and getting back in this game. We’ll deal with tomorrow tomorrow.”
Monk said he has Vogel to thank for being with the team this season.
Three MVPs and five all-stars were inactive for a game that held little meaning. Los Angeles was eliminated from the play-in tournament Tuesday and the Nuggets clinched a playoff spot Thursday. Denver is the sixth seed in the Western Conference and will play Golden State in the first round.
Nuggets coach Michael Malone sat four of his five starters, including MVP candidate Nikola Jokic, despite Denver having a chance to win the Northwest Division and move up to the fifth seed. That bid ended with Utah’s win at Portland.
“Season’s over, no one got hurt tonight,” Malone said. “We’ll focus on moving forward and preparing for Golden State.”
Markus Howard had a career-high 25 points and Bryn Forbes scored 24 for the Nuggets.
The Lakers sat LeBron James (ankle), Anthony Davis (right foot), Carmelo Anthony (non-COVID illness), Russell Westbrook (right shoulder) and Dwight Howard. Vogel said James did not make the trip because he was scheduled to have an MRI on his right ankle.