Los Angeles, California - The Brooklyn Nets returned from their Covid crisis in great shape, getting the better of the Los Angeles Lakers in their Christmas Day matchup.

The Nets defeated the Lakers 122-115 on Saturday for the fifth win in their last six games played.

Brooklyn had postponed their last three scheduled games due to a Covid-19 outbreak on their team that temporarily cost them upwards of 10 players over a 14-day stretch.

The Lakers, meanwhile, slumped to a fifth loss in a row.

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The Nets took command early on Saturday, leading the Lakers by 15 after the first quarter.

LA adjusted sharply and turned things around in the second to only trail by four at halftime, 66-62.

The see-saw continued, as Brooklyn took over in the second half with another dominant quarter, outscoring the Lakers 36-20 in the third quarter to re-establish a big 20-point lead heading into the fourth.

But the Lakers flipped the script in the final period by going off for 33 fourth-quarter points while holding the Nets to 20.

It wasn’t enough, though. Despite managing to tie Brooklyn with 45 seconds to go, the Nets sank a handful of free throws to slip away with the win.

In his first game back with the Nets from a two-week stint under the NBA’s health and safety protocols, James Harden (32) was didn't skip a beat as he led his team to the win.

The 11-year shooting guard and former league MVP stepped up a little further than expected Saturday night since his fellow superstar Kevin Durant is still out under the league’s Covid-19 protocols.

Harden was clutch in the game’s closing seconds, sinking four free throws that helped put away the Lakers by the final buzzer.

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He finished the game with his fifth triple-double of the season, shooting 10-for-25 from the field for a team-high 36 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists.

While the Lakers are slipping down the Western Conference standings, the Nets are still the best in the east.

Brooklyn is still competing with an incomplete roster, with many of the missing players out because of the coronavirus.

Kevin Durant will soon be cleared to play, but the wait for the controversial Kyrie Irving continues – not that he's been missed too much on the court.

The Nets have been succeeding in spite of some pretty tough circumstances, and they’ve proven yet again that their full roster will step up whenever needed.

On Monday night, the Nets will continue their West Coast road trip against the Clippers while on Tuesday, the Lakers will be on the road themselves against the Rockets.