Lakers 123 vs 100 Nuggets summary stats, scores and highlights | NBA
When Luka is on, there aren't many people who can stop him. The Nuggets threw everything they had at him, but he was making step back threes, leaners from the baseline and floaters through the lane. He looked like the Luka that we are used to seeing. He looked like an MVP candidate. More importantly he looked like he was finally comfortable and happy with the situation at hand following a rough last few weeks. He ended the night with 32, 10 and 7 assists and led the way in the biggest win of the Luka-LeBron era in LA.
Let's not get carried away with Luka fever. This is still LeBron's team as he showed us with his 40 point game in Portland. He stepped back and shared the spotlight tonight, but he still had 25, 9 and 5 for a nice, easy routine night for the 40 year old.
Luka had 16 in the first quarter, was quiet in the second quarter, but this three ball got him going for the rest of the game. It's going to be scary when LeBron and Luka start clicking. Maybe the best thing to come out of tonight, other than Luka locking in, was the defense. When Anthony Davis left everyone said this team was going to suffer on the defensive side of the ball. That wasn't the case on Saturday night. They held one of the highest scoring teams in the NBA to 100 points.
It looked like the Nuggets were going to make a run at the end of the first half after trailing throughout the first 22 minutes of the game. Jamal Murray got hot, but Luka and LeBron were there to cool him down heading into the break.
Even though he only had 12 points, Jokic was always going to find a way to impact the game. He set up Aaron Gordon countless times, and Gordon ended up leading the Nuggets with 24 points, but that wouldn't make up for Denver's 20 turnovers.
Luka was feeling it in the first quarter. After sitting out the game against the Trail Blazers a couple days ago, he was fresh and ready for Nuggets. He came out firing, dropping 16 points in the first quarter.
Nikola Jokic had another triple-double, and as crazy as it sounds, had an off night. He was swarmed by Lakers defenders all night and had trouble finding shots for himself. He only attempted 7 FGs and was forced to be a distributor for most of the night.
Luka Doncic had his break out game as a Los Angeles Laker as he led his new team to their biggest win in the LeBron-Luka era. They went into Denver and controlled the Nuggets in a wire-to-wire victory and snapped their nine game win streak.
Luka finally looked like Luka. After a couple of games in which he was finding his groove and his form after being sidelined for six weeks, he looked like the MVP caliber player we are used to seeing. He got the party started early with a couple of perfect dimes to LeBron to get the Lakers on top early.
IT'S ALL OVER!!!
Luka and the Lakers take down the Nuggets to snap their 9 game win streak.
Corner three from Pickett.
Hook shot from Jemison who beats the buzzer.
Knecht with the baseline drive and the lay up.
Timeout LA, and coach Redick is going to take his starters off the court with under 4:00 to go.
Luka to the line and he hits both FTs after the foul on Tyson.
Doncic with a floater from the baseline and he some how gets it to drop.
Timeout DEN with 4:15 to go.
Doncic picks off the pass from Jokic and takes it all the way for the lay up.
Braun from downtown and that goes from the wing!
Reaves spots up and drills a three ball from the wing!
Gordon jacks the three and he hits another one, but the Nuggets need a few more of those to get back into this game.
James to the line after the foul on Jokic and he hits bot FTs.
James with the kick out for Goodwin and he drills the three ball from the corner!
Timeout Nuggets with 7:31 to go!
Goodwin floats it up and in from the FT line.
Strawther with the floater in the lane.
LeBron with the kick out to Vincent who strokes the three from the wing!
James beats the buzzer with a shot off the bank from the block.
Gordon with the spin and the finish at the rack.
Timeout Lakers with under 10:00 to go.
James down the lane and he lays it up and in with the left hand.
Westbrook fouled on the put back but he misses both FTs.
WE ARE HEADING TO THE FOURTH QUARTER WITH THE LAKERS UP BY 9!!!
Jokic to the line and he hits one of two after the foul on Reaves.
Westbrook to the rack and he lays it up and in.
Reaves goes up and under and banks it off the glass from in the lane.
Westbrook with the finger roll down low off the feed from Jokic.
Reaves pulls the trigger from way downtown and that goes!
Timeout DEN wit under 2:00 to go in the 3rd quarter.
Murray with a deep ball from the top of the key and back and forth we go!
Hachimura lights it up from downtown and all of the sudden both teams are feeling it from long range.
Porter Jr. in the lane and he gets the floater to go.
Reaves answers back with a three ball from the wing!!!
Westbrook was left open and he hits the three ball from the wing!
Luka to the line after the foul on Porter, and he hits both FTs.
Hachimura drills a three ball to stretch the lead out to 9.
Westbrook in the corner and he drills the three ball with the shot clock winding down.
Reaves looks up the court and he finds James for the lay up and one! FT is no good.
Hachimura to the line after the foul on Jokic and he hits one of two FTs.
Murray with the step back and he's got four triples on the night.
Gordon hits a three ball and he sinks it off the dish from Braun.
Reaves down the lane and he floats it up and in.
Braun to the line and he hits one of two FTs.
Doncic with a floater in the lane and he's got 24 on the night.
Murray misses the lay up but Porter was there for the put back.
Timeout DEN wit 9:09 to go in the third.
Doncic with the side step and he drills it from the wing!
Hachimura on the double pump and he jams it home from down low.
Hachimura from the corner and he drills it off the feed from Reaves.
Doncic finds James streaking down the baseline for the jam.
Jokic looks up for Gordon who lays it up and in.
Porter hits a spot up three and we have a three point game.
Porter to the line and he hits both FTs after the foul on Hayes.
WE ARE BACK IN DENVER FOR THE SECOND HALF OF ACTION.
Murray hits a FT after a tech on Doncic at the end of the half.
With Jokic getting so much attention, Murray had to create on his own and he did that with back to back threes but Luka and LeBron have been too much for the Nuggets so far.
Jokic has 11, 10 and 5 already, but he got everyone involved before getting his shots up. He's going to get a lot of attention in the second half. His teammates are going to have to get open.
Luka was feeling it in the first quarter. He played all 12 minutes and had 16 points. This is by far his best game as a Laker.
Nikola Jokic has been getting a lot of attention from the LA defense which has opened up space for the other guys on the court. Aaron Gordon leads the Nuggets with 14 points, most of those off Jokic dishes.
We are at the end of the first half, and so far the Lakers have led the whole way. Luka and LeBron have looked better than they have looked in any of their previous games together.
WE ARE HEADING TO THE HALFTIME BREAK AND THE LAKERS ARE UP BY 9!!!
Braun to the line after the foul on LeBron and he hits both FTs.
Doncic with the step back three from the wing and he hits it for this first points of the second quarter. He's got 19.
Doncic running the break and he hangs it up for James on the alley oop!
Murray with a crossover from the perimeter and he drains the three ball!
Murray answers back with a three, his third of the night.
LeBron with the quick trigger from the corner for three!
Doncic with a steal and he looks up for LeBron who was wide open for the lay up.
Timeout Nuggets with 2:39 to go in the first half.
LeBron finds Hachimura for the jam on the 3 on 1 break.
Jokic to the line after the foul on Finney-Smith and he hits both FTs.
No look pass from Jokic to Gordon down low for the jam.
Reaves to the line after the foul from Tyson and he hits both FTs.
Jokic beats the shot clock buzzer with a fade away with the ball behind his head.
Reaves gets a three ball to fall off the step back from the top of the key.
Gordon down low and he slams it home off the feed from Braun.
Gordon to the line after the foul on Hayes and he hits both FTs.
James picks off a pass and takes it all the way for a fast break lay up.
Westbrook with a corner three ball off the feed from Murray.
Reaves hangs it up for LeBron on the baseline and he slams home the alley oop.
Knecht to the line after the foul on Westbrook and he hits both FTs.
Rachimura to the line after the foul on Porter and he hits both FTs.
Porter with an elbow jumper and he drills it over a defender.
Braun's three ball was ruled a two, so we'll take a point off the board.
WE ARE AT THE END OF THE FIRST QUARTER!!!
Luka had 16 points to lead the Lakers in that opening 12 minutes. Jokic is on his way to another triple double, and we have a 6 point game heading into the second quarter.
Jokic with the offensive rebound and the put back.
Behind the back pass from LeBron to Hachimura and he drills the three from the top of the key.
Braun drills the three ball to cut the lead to 5 with under a minute left.
Jokic to the line after the foul on Vincent and he hits both FTs.
Westbrook with a mid range floater in the lane off the feed from Jokic.
Jokic to the line after the foul on Vanderbilt and he hits both FTs.
Vincent with the fast break look for Luka down low with the transition lay up.
Murray with a beautiful feed down low for Braun for the lay up.
Long rebound from Vanderbilt who finds Doncic down low for the rebound.
Jokic to the line after the foul on Vanderbilt and he hits one of two FTs.
Luka drills a three ball from the win and looks at his bench after his 12th point of the first quarter.
Strawther gets called for a flagrant foul, sending Vanderbilt to the line where he hits one of two FTs, and LA get the ball.
Doncic fouled by Gordon and he hits both FTs.
Reaves to the line after the foul on Strawther and he hits one of two FTs.
Gordon finds Westbrook cutting to the bucket for the lay up.
Extra pass from Hachimura to Finney-Smith who nails the three from the wing!
TImeout DEN with under 5:00 to go in the 1st quarter.
Doncic pulls up from way downtown and he drills the three from the top of the key!
Murray drills a three ball, his second of the night.
Reaves lays it off for Luka who floats it up and in.
Luka gets fouled by Murray and he hits both FTs.
Gordon with another three ball and he's got a couple of those already!
LeBron follows up his own miss and tips it in.
Doncic gets double teamed and he finds Hayes releasing to the bucket for the lay up.
Jokic looks down low for Gordon who slams it home and this game is opening up after a slow start.
Reaves cuts to the iron and James finds him for the lay up.
Porter with the fader in the lane to tie the game up at 8-8.
Gordon drills a three ball from the corner!
Doncic looks down low for Hayes for the wide open slam.
Murray off the screen from Jokic and he drills the three ball!
Reaves to the line after the foul on Porter Jr. and he hits both FTs.
Doncic gets the rebound and looks up for LeBron with the wide open lay up.
Hayes finds Hachimura on a slash to the cup and a lay up.
WE ARE UNDERWAY FROM BALL ARENA!!!
Lakers' starting five
Luka is back in the starting line up for the Lakers who are at full strength tonight. They are going to need his unit to lead them the rest of the way. Tonight we get out first at Luka and LeBron together against a playoff contender.
Denver's first five
This is the same first five that won an NBA title. Jokic is the star with Murray running the show. What is really going to separate this team is their bench. Let's see how their second unit does tonight.
Not glazing, just in awe
Sometimes there are no words to describe what LeBron is doing at this age. His coach and friend, JJ Redick was caught up in the hype after The Kings latest 40 point game in Portland. Remember, LeBron was questioned for sitting out the All-Star Game at the last minute. His character, his professionalism and his dedication was questioned. Hopefully with the 40 point game against the Trail Blazers he has convinced the rest of the world that he is as committed to the game as he was when he was a teenager. His coach took time to mention it, and it’s time everyone else tips their cap to maybe the greatest that ever was.
Western Conference Standings
Taking a look at the standings in the West we see the Nuggets in third place even though they have the same record as the Memphis Grizzlies. At the moment the Grizz have the tie breaker with the Thunder in a commanding lead for the one seed heading into the playoffs. The Lakers aren’t too far behind the Nuggets after their incredible start to the 2025 calendar year. There have been a lot of changes since then, but they are looking to keep pace with the top four teams in the West. The goal is to make it into the top four. The fear is dropping into the Play-In zone.
Luka and LeBron probable
Luka didn’t play in the Lakers last game in Portland. He sat out because of a lingering calf injury that has been plaguing him since before the All-Star Break, before the trade and even before the turn of the new year. He needs to get healthy before the final stretch of the season, and he needs to build that chemistry with LeBron before the playoffs start up. Tonight he is listed as probably, and this will no doubt be the biggest game the Lakers have played since Luka joined the Lakers
Star watch: Nuggets
Nikola Jokic is the best player in the league. All do respect to LeBron, to Luka, to ANT, to every other player in the league, the big, slow Serbian is the best player in the league, and he is on the way to a fourth MVP title. SGA is great, but the Nuggets wouldn’t be anywhere close to the top of the Western Conference without Jokic. He’s averaging almost 30 points, 12 rebonds and 10 assists, and he has the Nuggets in the third spot in the West. As much as the haters want to discredit him, there is really no argument. Jokic is the best player in the league and he usually shows it in the biggest games of the year, so buckle up and get ready for a shot.
Star watch: Lakers
Talk about Luka all you want, but the star of the show in LA is, has been, and will be LeBron James. This dude is doing stuff that has never been done before. He just passed Michael Jordan for most 40 point games as a 40 year old, and he looks like he is just getting started. Having Luka is going to lighten the load on the NBA’s All-Time Leading scorer, but when he needs to take over the game his will do exactly that.
Nuggets last game
The Nuggets rattled off their ninth win in a row against the dismal Charlotte Hornets who came into the Mile High City and gave Denver a fight until the final six minutes of the game. Jamal Murray carried the load scoring 34 points while Nikola Jokic scored 29, pulled down 17 rebounds and dished 9 assists in the win over Charlotte. The defense came in when it was crunch time, holding the Hornets to just four points in the first 8 minutes of the final quarter. Denver stretched the lead out to 15 and never looked back after, cruising to a comfortable win.
Last game: Lakers
The Lakers went to Portland and LeBron James went absolutely wild. There was no Luka Doncic, so LA leaned on the league’s all time leading scorer to put them back in the win column. The Lakers went up big in the first quarter but had to hold off a charge from Denny Avdija and the Portland Trail Blazers for the final three quarters. LeBron, at 40 years old, went for 40 points and Austin Reaves chipped in another 32 to snap the Lakers two game losing skid.
We are live from Denver
Hello everyone and welcome to Ball Arena for tonight’s huge Western Conference showdown with the new look Lakers who are not only looking to build the chemistry between LeBron and Luka but are trying to climb up the standings as we approach the final stretch of the season. The Denver Nuggets are on a nine game win streak and have a chance to make a statement win tonight in front of the nation as they continue their quest up the standings.
Lakers vs. Nuggets live
We have a star studded Saturday showdown from the Mile High City as three of the NBA’s biggest super stars take the floor from Denver. Luka Doncic and LeBron James are still trying to find their groove after a massive midseason trade, and tonight they go to Denver to take on Nikola Jokic and the high flying Nuggets in a battle of Western Conference powerhouses and AS English will be with you all night with live coverage, stats, highlights and analysis of tonight’s game from Ball Arena.