March 5, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) controls the ball while Los Angeles Lakers center Jackson Hayes (11) guards during the first quarter at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Image Nikola Jokic overcame nine turnovers with 28 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds, and the host Denver Nuggets beat the Los Angeles Lakers 120-113 in a crucial Western Conference matchup Thursday night.
LeBron James achieved another milestone in his 23rd season, scoring 16 points on 7-for-11 shooting. James was two nights behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in NBA history for making a field goal and passed the all-time mark with a 12-foot turnaround jumper in the first quarter.
But James, who has now made 15,842 career shots, is not done playing. He left with 3:58 left in the fourth quarter after sinking a layup, falling to the floor and injuring his left elbow.
Los Angeles’ Deandre Ayton was sidelined in the first quarter due to a knee injury. Coach JJ Reddick had no real updates on either player after the game.
Jamal Murray had 28 points, Julian Strother had 18, Christian Brown had 15 and Tim Hardaway Jr. added 14 off the bench for the Nuggets.
Luka Doncic had 27 points, 11 rebounds and 7 assists, but committed his 15th technical foul of the season in the second quarter. Do one more and he will be suspended for one game.
For the Lakers, whose three-game winning streak was halted, Jackson Hayes finished with 19 points, and Rui Hachimura and Austin Reeves each scored 16 points.
Denver, playing without its top four forwards, dominated the entire game. The Nuggets took a 102-91 lead early in the fourth when Los Angeles rallied and got within 112-111 with 2:05 left after Reeves split a pair of free throws.
Jokic hit a short hook to create a 3-point lead, and followed up Smart’s missed 3-pointer with a running layup to make it 116-111 with 22.3 seconds left.
Doncic missed a 3-pointer from the top of the arc with 20.1 seconds left, and Denver finished at the line.
The teams traded scores with the Nuggets leading by as many as 15 points in the first half and taking a 64-54 advantage into halftime.
The Lakers tied the game at 82-78 midway through the third quarter, and Denver took an 11-point lead, but Doncic hit 3-pointers, including a sharp bank shot in the final minute, to make it 93-86 going into the fourth.
–Field level media
