Doncic Powers Lakers’ Comeback Win Over Injury-Depleted Nuggets.

DENVER — Luka Dončić recorded a triple-double with 38 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists as the Los Angeles Lakers erased a deficit to defeat the Denver Nuggets 115–107 on Tuesday night. LeBron James added 19 points for Los Angeles, which played the entire second half without center Deandre Ayton after he suffered a left eye injury. Despite the setback, the Lakers surged late to secure the victory. Denver was led by Jamal Murray, who scored 28 points and handed out 11 assists. Murray poured in 26 of his points before halftime but struggled after the break, making just one of five shots in the second half.

The Nuggets, playing without four rotation players—including Nikola Jokić, who has missed 12 straight games due to a hyperextended left knee—still managed to build a commanding lead. With Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II watching from courtside, Denver went ahead by as many as 16 points in the third quarter. Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson each scored 18 points for Denver. Murray capped a strong first half with a flurry in the final 35 seconds, assisting on a dunk by Gordon, setting up Watson for a three-pointer, and then drilling a 56-foot buzzer-beater to give Denver a 71–57 halftime advantage. Los Angeles responded in the third quarter, outscoring Denver 29–17 to cut the deficit to 88–86. The Lakers tied the game early in the fourth quarter and took their first lead when Dončić converted two free throws with 6:42 remaining. That basket capped a decisive 16–0 run, turning a two-point deficit into a 108–96 Lakers lead.

The matchup added another chapter to the growing rivalry between the two teams, which began during the 2023 Western Conference Finals when Denver swept Los Angeles en route to an NBA championship. The Lakers will return to Los Angeles before facing the Clippers on Thursday night, while the Nuggets open a three-game road trip in Washington on the same evening.