In one of the most anticipated fixtures of the 2020-21 NBA season, the reigning champs, the LA Lakers faced the surging Brooklyn Nets in an entertaining battle tonight. The game was missing some star power as Kevin Durant and Anthony Davis were on the sidelines. Dennis Schroder had to sit this one out due to the league's strict health and safety protocols and the Lakers missed his scoring and defense.The matchup, touted as a preview for the 2021 NBA Finals, ended up being a lopsided affair. The Brooklyn Nets put on a magnificent scoring exhibition, driven by their impressive offensive prowess. The LA Lakers' league-leading defensive rating took a back seat to the high-flying Brooklyn Nets offense that was firing on all cylinders at Staples Center.James Harden was the MVP on the night as he led the effort with a team-high 23 points while dishing out 11 assists en route to their 19th win of the season. Kyrie Irving and Joe Harris combined for 37 points between them for an easy win over the LA Lakers.Twitter erupts as James Harden and crew overpower LA Lakers thanks to dominant 3-point shooting displayLeBron James of the LA LakersIt wasn't a surprise to see the Brooklyn Nets rely on shooting from the three-point line with Steve Nash and Mike D'Antoni on the coaching staff. The Nets came out strong in the first half, sinking the long-range trey with a terrific 54% accuracy for 21 made threes against the LA Lakers. Frank Vogel's team, who are in the midst of a shooting slump, could only manage 4 out of 14 attempts from downtown till the halfway mark.LeBron James and the LA Lakers were missing Anthony Davis' production from the floor as they struggled to match the Nets' firepower. James ended the night with a 32-point outing and received some help from Kyle Kuzma, who registered 16 points but the rest of the cast didn't show up for this one. In contrast, the Brooklyn Nets bench was blazing, with several players chipping in to help their side surge past the Lakers for an emphatic victory.Check out how Twitterati reacted to the showdown between two top contenders in the NBA:I always love big NBA games! The @Lakers vs. Nets will still be exciting to watch, even without KD and AD, because of MVP candidates LeBron James and James Harden as well as their teammates!— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) February 18, 2021Lakers vs Brooklyn Nets tonight 🏀🔥. They will be the NBA finals save my tweet 😎— Felipe Cortez (@cortezF10) February 19, 2021Lakers & Nets fans today pic.twitter.com/W8am80FK3z— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) February 19, 2021I can't stand these uniforms the Lakers are wearing. You are the F'ing Lakers! You have one of the most iconic uniforms in sports... not just basketball. Blue & white w/ a cursive Los Angeles??? Alternate jerseys? Fine. White ones, the Black Mamba ones... cool. These? Terrible!— Tom Fallon (@fallonlv) February 19, 2021We're probably watching the NBA finals right now! @BrooklynNets vs @Lakers— Jesus Vasquez (@ayyyjesse) February 19, 2021📺 @BrooklynNets Basketball aka Scary Hours 🤙🏾— Proficient Personnel (@IGOTEMHANDSDOWN) February 19, 2021Lakers, guard the F’ing 3 pt line. FCCCCKKK🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬— shannon sharpe (@ShannonSharpe) February 19, 2021Congratulations The Big Homie @KingJames https://t.co/ab2NlpAH3v— DiddyBop (@ShowOffDiddy) February 19, 2021Too bad they’re gonna get dethroned by the Jazz this year!— Madmartigan (@Madmart59611933) February 19, 2021Congrats to LeBron James for topping 35,000 career points ... in what seems like around 35,000 games.— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) February 19, 2021King James reached a new milestone in his highly decorated career tonight. LeBron is now part of an elite club of NBA legends as the third player in NBA history to reach 35,000 points. It's good to be the KING!LeBron James continues to raise his ceiling in his 18th year in the league. It is safe to say that James will exit the game with one of the brightest resumes ever seen in the NBA, making his case for the title of G.O.A.T ever stronger.@KingJames 🤨 https://t.co/FJHBOXoiRV— Logan Barrett (@loganbarrett96) February 19, 2021Former Cleveland Cavaliers teammates and new rivals LeBron James and Kyrie Irving went hard at each other. Kyrie Irving did not hold back, taking a jab at LeBron's missed free-throw attempt by yelling: "That's your best free throw shooter?"To all lakers fans how bout them lakers hahaha getting there asses whip by my Brooklyn nets— Joseph Pena (@Flow3r76) February 19, 2021Man these Brooklyn Nets team scary. They just dominating the Lakers #BrooklynTogether vs #LakeShow— Not_Paul_George (@Prinz__JFC) February 19, 2021The Role Players are giving the Lakers that work!!! The battle of the supporting Cast and it from the looks of it the Lakers other don’t want that SMOKE. Carry on...— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) February 19, 2021Watching #BrooklynNets for the first time since the Harden trade. That team has an open three on every possession and boy, can they hit them.— Drew (@PittMich12) February 19, 2021All we missing is #AD points and Dennis Schröder and this would be a different game ..... Los Angeles Lakers in 5 🤷🏿‍♂️ #LakeShow— Blackgunn Ghettotheologist (@BlackgunnG) February 19, 2021LeChoke just lost the game for us. I'm done with this fraud team. By now I'm supporting the REAL Los Angeles team, that by the way OWNS the Lakers.— LeOverrated (@KingDrooool) February 19, 2021The LA Lakers will remain in Los Angeles for an enticing rematch from the 2020 NBA Finals as they battle it out with the visiting Miami Heat in their next matchup. Meanwhile, the high-flying Brooklyn Nets will face off against another elite team in the West as they take on the LA Clippers for their second encounter of the season.