Denver hit the Lakers with another late fourth-quarter surge, taking a 124-114 win Sunday (PHL) to spoile LeBron James’ night as he became the first and only player in NBA history to score 40,000 career regular season points.
Down two, Aaron Gordon hit a three with 3:49 to go that started the Nuggets’ 16-6 closing run for the win, their sixth straight.
AG from downtown 🪣 pic.twitter.com/3rQbKpw1w1
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) March 3, 2024
Denver drew big games from their big names, which the Nuggets needed to again frustrate the Lakers, which led by as many as 11.
Nikola Jokic scored 35 points, Michael Porter Jr. went a perfect 10-for-10 for 25 points, while Jamal Murray added 24. Gordon also chipped in 18 as Denver has beaten the Lakers in eight straight games dating back to last year’s regular season.
These guys showed out 🪣
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) March 3, 2024
Jok: 35 PTS / 10 REB / 7 AST
MPJ: 25 PTS / 10 REB / 4 AST
Mal: 24 PTS / 6 REB / 11 AST
AG: 18 PTS / 9 REB / 5 AST pic.twitter.com/iyNFdY7sAL
For the Lakers, it was another big offensive game for their starters, but they still can’t quite get over the hump against the Nuggets.
James finished with 26, which now puts him at 40,017 points. His left-handed layup over Porter Jr. early in the second quarter officially put him at exactly 40,000.
The moment King James created the 40,000 Club 🫡 pic.twitter.com/pEcNPOhIo9
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) March 3, 2024
Rui Hachimura added 23 for Los Angeles, while Austin Reaves finished with 19 points and 14 assists. Anthony Davis and D’Angelo Russell went for 17 each.
Denver rised to 42-19, staying within a game in the race for the West’s no. 1 seed. The Lakers dropped to 33-29, once again failing to be six games over .500 for what would have been the first time since 2021.
