DENVER — The Lakers started their annual Grammy road trip with a comeback win.
Luka Doncic had 38 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists, and the Lakers rallied to beat the Denver Nuggets, 115-107, on Tuesday night.
LeBron James, who was not voted an All-Star starter for the first time since his rookie season, had 19 points, nine rebounds and eight assists for the Lakers, who played the second half without center Deandre Ayton after he was poked in the eye.
Jamal Murray scored 26 of his 28 points in the first half for Denver and added 11 assists, but he shot just 1 for 5 from the field in the second half.
With Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II sitting courtside, the short-handed Nuggets led by 16 in the third quarter despite playing without four rotation players, including Nikola Jokic, who has missed the past 12 games with a hyperextended left knee, and backup center Jonas Valanciunas (calf).
Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson scored 18 apiece for the Nuggets.
A close game added to the budding rivalry that began in the 2023 Western Conference finals, when Denver swept the Lakers on its way to its only NBA title.
It appeared the Nuggets would cruise to another win after jumping out to a 13-point lead in the first quarter (when they made nine 3-point shots) and had a strong end to the second quarter.
Murray finished the first half with a 35-second flurry to give Denver a 71-57 lead. He fed Gordon for a lob dunk, assisted on Watson’s 3-pointer with 7.3 seconds left and then drained a 56-foot heave at the horn.
Murray missed both of his shots in the third quarter when the Lakers outscored the Nuggets 29-17 to close within 88-86.
The Lakers tied it early in the fourth and took their first lead on two free throws by Doncic with 6:42 left during a 16-0 run that turned a two-point deficit into a 108-96 lead.
UP NEXT
The Lakers return home for a road game against the Clippers on Thursday at 7 p.m., then leave town for six straight out of town.
More to come on this story.