Watch Metta World Peace get a standing ovation for defensive effort

During the Lakers’ lackluster defensive showing in their 112-105 loss to Denver on Sunday, there was one hustle play that brought the Staples Center crowd to its feet.

At the top of the fourth quarter, Metta World Peace decided to stick Danilo Gallinari.

He bodied Gallinari up at the three-point line, forcing the Denver Nuggets forward to make something of a spin move in an attempt to try and create some distance between himself and World Peace.

World Peace, whom Kobe Bryant has hailed as having the fastest hands in the NBA, then picked the ball from Gallinari.

Gallinari and World Peace sprinted into the backcourt to try to recover the loose ball. Gallinari won the foot race and picked up the ball but when he turned around, World Peace was in his face in his defensive stance.

Gallinari then once again tryed to use his dribble to lose the Lakers’ pest but World Peace once again stripped him. The ball landed in Cory Brewer’s hands and he was forced to shoot from behind the half court line as the shot clock expired.

On a night when the Lakers defense seemed stagnant at best and lacking effort at worst, World Peace’s defensive intensity in that moment greatly stood out.

The crowd awarded World Peace with a standing ovation, its only such applause of the evening.

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