Why the Lakers Win Over the Brooklyn Nets is a BIG DEAL! Post Game Recap | Lakers Blowout Nets Subscribe! It was a potential NBA Finals preview, albeit with superstars on both squads sidelined with injuries. Nevertheless, Los Angeles Lakers guard Dennis Schroder called L.A.'s 126-101 beatdown of the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday "the best win of the year." The visiting Lakers were playing without stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis as well as Kyle Kuzma (left calf strain), Wesley Matthews (right Achilles tightness) and Marc Gasol (left hamstring tightness), but they led the Nets by as many as 28 points to win for the fifth time in their past eight games. "Like I said all along, all season long, when we play scrappy on the defensive end, we always have a chance," Lakers coach Frank Vogel said after L.A. held Brooklyn to 43.5% shooting and its lowest point total in eight games. "I'm super proud of our group." Not that Brooklyn was at full strength, either, with James Harden (right hamstring) out and Kevin Durant on a minutes restriction in just his second game back from an extended hamstring injury of his own. On top of that, Kyrie Irving got into it with Schroder in the third quarter, and two were ejected. However, the Lakers had contributions across the board, with a season-high eight players reaching double-digit scoring and the team tying a season best with 19 made 3-pointers. In addition, Talen Horton-Tucker had a career-high 11 assists, Alfonzo McKinnie had a season-high nine rebounds, Markieff Morris had a season-high three steals and Ben McLemore made five 3s in just his second game with the team. "I learned a lot from today's game: that we have a lot of guys in this locker room that are very tough," said Andre Drummond, who had 20 points and 11 rebounds in his strongest game since joining L.A. from the buyout market last month. "Despite who is on the other side of the court, they're going to come out and play. No matter how many minutes guys play, they're going to play to the best of their ability. And we have fun doing it. We had a lot of fun tonight playing and getting this win." Drummond sure looked like he was enjoying himself when he drove and scored on LaMarcus Aldridge midway through the third quarter. Drummond drew a foul as he bullied his way to the hoop and then dropped his hand below his knees in celebration, gesturing that Aldridge was too small to guard him. #LakersvsNets #NBA #Basketball