DENVER (AP) — Luka Doncic had 38 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Denver Nuggets 115-107 on Tuesday night.
LeBron James, who was not selected as an All-Star starter for the first time since his rookie season, scored 19 points for Los Angeles, which missed center Deandre Ayton in the second half with a left eye injury.
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Jamal Murray scored 26 of the Nuggets’ 28 points in the first half and dished out 11 assists, but made just 1 of 5 shots in the second half.
With Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II sitting on the sidelines, the short-handed Nuggets led by 16 points in the third quarter despite missing four rotation players, including Nikola Jokic, who has missed the past 12 games with a hyperextended left knee.
The Nuggets’ Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson each scored 18 points.
A close game adds color to the rivalry that begins in the 2023 Western Conference Finals, when Denver swept the Lakers to claim the NBA title.
The Nuggets built a 13-point lead in the first quarter and went strong in the second quarter and looked poised to make another comeback.
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Murray spent 35 seconds of panic at the end of the first half to put Denver up 71-57. He dunked on Gordon, set up Watson’s 3-pointer with 7.3 seconds left, and then drained a 56-footer from the corner.
Murray missed both shots in the third quarter, and Los Angeles led the Nuggets 29-17, chasing the score to 88-86.
The Lakers tied the score at the beginning of the fourth quarter. With 6 minutes and 42 seconds left, Doncic made two free throws. The Lakers launched a 16-0 climax, turning a two-point deficit into a 108-96 lead.
Next
Lakers: Return to Los Angeles to take on the Clippers on the road Thursday night.
Nuggets: Begin a three-game road trip Thursday night in Washington.
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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA