Lakers 115-107 Nuggets: A Thriller in Denver (Jan 20, 2026)
DENVER -- The Los Angeles Lakers pulled off a stunning comeback, rallying from behind to defeat the Denver Nuggets 115-107 on Tuesday night. Despite being without All-Star center Deandre Ayton due to a left eye injury, the Lakers were led by Luka Doncic's triple-double performance, scoring 38 points, grabbing 13 rebounds, and dishing out 10 assists.
LeBron James, who missed the All-Star Game for the first time since his rookie year, contributed 19 points. The Nuggets, on the other hand, were led by Jamal Murray, who scored 26 of his 28 points in the first half, including a 35-second flurry that ended with a lob dunk, a 3-pointer, and a 56-foot heave at the horn. However, Murray struggled in the second half, missing all but one of his shots.
The Nuggets, missing four key players, including Nikola Jokic (hyperextended left knee), held a 16-point lead in the third quarter. Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson each scored 18 points for Denver. The game was a close affair, with the Lakers tying it early in the fourth quarter and taking the lead on two free throws by Doncic with 6:42 left. This 16-0 run by the Lakers turned a two-point deficit into a 108-96 lead.
The win marked a significant step in the growing rivalry between the two teams, which began in the 2023 Western Conference finals when Denver swept the Lakers en route to the NBA title. The Lakers' next game is a road trip to face the Clippers on Thursday night, while the Nuggets will begin a three-game road trip in Washington on the same day.
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