Larry Nance Jr. Jumps, Lands Huge Dunk On Brook Lopez In Lakers’ 107-97 Loss To Nets

Larry Nance Jr. reminded everyone on Wednesday night why he’s such a star player.

Larry Nance Jr. Jumps, Lands Huge Dunk On Brook Lopez In Lakers’ 107-97 Loss To Nets

The 23-year-old Los Angeles Lakers forward– a 2015 first-round draft pick– couldn’t stop the Brooklyn Nets from winning at their own Barclays Center 107-97 on Wednesday, but he did manage to sink a vicious dunk on Brook Lopez in the final minute of the third quarter.

From near mid-court, Nance took his time at first, then raced up to the basket and flew to aggressively throw down a massive one-handed dunk on Lopez to put the Lakers up 74-73.

That was one of the few highlights of the night for Los Angeles, however.

Bojan Bogdanovic scored 23 points for the Nets and Sean Kilpatrick added 22 to hand the Lakers their eight straight loss.

Los Angeles scored 33 points in the third period, but managed only seven baskets in the fourth– none over the final 6-plus minutes.

”Our offense kind of hit a wall,” Nance said.

Lopez added 20 points for Brooklyn, who played without Jeremy Lin again but avoided a third consecutive loss. Trevor Booker recorded a season-high 18 rebounds and also helped lead the Nets’ rare fourth-quarter defensive stand.

”I think if we’re going to take a step that’s where we need to take a step, is defensively,” coach Kenny Atkinson said afterward. ”I was very pleased.”

Lou Williams added 16 points for the Lakers, who have dropped from a .500 team early in Luke Walton’s first season as coach to one that is 10-18. They shot 38.5 percent from the field and were dismal as well from 3-point range (22 percent) and the free throw line (61.8).

 ”As a group, as a team, we’ve got a lot to learn about winning and how hard it is,” Walton said. ”It’s frustrating, but it’s where we are at. Like I told our guys, we’re going to find a way out. When that is? Time will tell.”

Walton was recently fined $15,000 by the NBA for verbally abusing a game official during a loss to Sacramento and not leaving the court in a timely manner after being ejected for arguing.

Los Angeles led by one midway through the fourth before back-to-back follow shots from Luis Scola and Lopez put the Nets ahead for good, and Lopez had consecutive baskets later during an 11-2 run that gave Brooklyn a 102-94 lead with 4:47 to play.

The Lakers kept mis-shooting and the Nets eventually raised the lead to double digits near the end. Los Angeles’ Nick Young dislocated his finger, but said he was fine. He scored 14 points but shot 5 of 15.

”It wasn’t no real Kobe moment,” he said. ”You know, it wasn’t that (badly) dislocated. It will be all right.”

Young and D’Angelo Russell both played their third game since an injury absence.

Lin had just returned from a 17-game absence with a strained left hamstring to play in the Nets’ loss at Houston on Monday. Atkinson said he was ruled out shortly before Wednesday night’s game.

The Lakers will next visit Philadelphia on Friday, their third stop on a seven-game trip. The Nets will visit Orlando that same day. The Magic have won the last four meetings.

LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 13: Larry Nance Jr. #7 of the Los Angeles Lakers dunks the ball against the Utah Jazz in the second half at Staples Center on April 13, 2016 in Los Angeles, California.