Game Report: Lakers Come Back to Defeat Nuggets, Lakers Starter Leaves Midgame Due to Eye Injury

Today, the Lakers took on the Western Conference's third-place Nuggets away from home, a challenging matchup. The Lakers started with Doncic, Smart, LaRavia, James, and Ayton. The Nuggets’ starters were Murray, Pickett, Spence-Jones, Watson, and Gordon.

At the start, the Nuggets were sharp from three-point range, while Doncic opened the Lakers' scoring with a jump shot.

Ayton made a floater, the Nuggets were perfect on their first five shots including four threes, and the Lakers’ first three-pointer came from Doncic.

Doncic drove strongly to score, then the Nuggets hit another three, and Doncic responded right away.

The Nuggets hit another three, making it 6 of 7 from deep, prompting the Lakers to call a timeout. James hadn’t yet contributed and took a rest. Doncic hit a mid-range jumper, now 6-for-6, while the Nuggets kept sinking threes. They pressured Doncic into passing, and LaRavia completed the first and-one.

After the Nuggets made 9 out of 11 three-pointers, the Lakers trailed 22-35, down by double digits. But that shot seemed out of bounds, the player was outside the line and it hit his foot.

Nuggets’ Spence-Jones, averaging 6.2 points this season, surprisingly made all four of his first-quarter threes effortlessly. James started, got blocked, but immediately assisted Hachimura.

James nailed a buzzer-beating mid-range shot.

At the end of the first quarter, the Lakers trailed 28-37 to the Nuggets. James had 2 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist; Doncic 16 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist; LaRavia 3 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist; Ayton 2 points, 3 rebounds; Hachimura 4 points, 1 rebound; Hayes 1 point.

In the second quarter, Timmy came in and scored five straight points.

James made a difficult fadeaway jumper.

Timmy was unstoppable, scoring seven consecutive points.

However, he was fouled on a three-point attempt; the opponent made two out of three free throws. The Nuggets scored two quick baskets, Ayton scored inside, then the Nuggets went on a four-point run. James drew a foul on a three-point shot but made only one of three free throws.

Then the veteran exploded with a powerful dunk, glaring fiercely to release his emotions.

During James’ rest, Vincent hit a wide-open three-pointer.

Hayes scored on a put-back dunk; the Lakers needed that kind of energy.

Hachimura made a mistake on this play, called out of bounds. The Lakers challenged but lost.

Hachimura hit a three-pointer to regain some pride.

Doncic scored on a floater, Murray hit a three, James returned and assisted Doncic for an and-one.

Doncic complained to the referee and received a technical foul.

The Nuggets scored six straight points, and Murray surprisingly made a half-court buzzer-beating three-pointer.

At halftime, the Lakers trailed the Nuggets 57-71. James had 7 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists; Doncic 23 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists; LaRavia 3 points; Ayton 4 points, 8 rebounds; Hachimura 7 points; Vincent 3 points; Hayes 3 points; Timmy 7 points, 2 rebounds.

Ayton left the game at halftime due to an eye injury sustained earlier and did not return. Hayes started the third quarter, and James scored on a fast break.

Smart hit a three-pointer, but the Nuggets scored six consecutive points; James was double-teamed.

LaRavia and Hayes both dunked, but the Lakers still trailed by 12 points entering the timeout.

Doncic scored on a floater and also hit a three-pointer.

Hayes dunked, LaRavia scored on a floater, but the referees refused to call a foul.

The teams battled back and forth, with the Lakers trailing 81-88 going into a timeout. James scored five straight points, but no and-one calls were given, and the Nuggets committed zero fouls in the quarter.

The Lakers outscored their opponents by 12 points in the quarter, entering the fourth quarter down 86-88. In the final quarter, James assisted Timmy to tie the game.

The opponents scored two points, Vincent was fouled on a three-point attempt and made two of three free throws. James assisted Hachimura for a basket inside. The Nuggets focused their defense on Timmy. After a jump ball, Smart scored on a put-back.

Doncic assisted Hayes on a dunk to tie the game.

The referees surprisingly did not call a shooting foul on this play, leaving Doncic in disbelief.

After a timeout, the referees overturned the call, and Doncic made both free throws. On the next possession, the Nuggets’ coach rushed onto the court to challenge, while Reddick expressed frustration, saying they had already inbounded the ball—how could they still challenge?

The Nuggets gained possession, Smart committed an offensive foul, then was fouled on a three-point attempt and made all three free throws.

The Nuggets missed consecutive shots, and Smart hit a three-pointer!

Murray had scored zero points in the second half so far. With four minutes left, the Lakers led by eight entering a timeout. James returned, was fouled, made one of two free throws, and the Nuggets had gone six minutes without scoring. Smart hit another three-pointer.

The Nuggets made two consecutive three-pointers, but James responded with a spectacular dunk.

Smart’s small version of Smart got kicked, and Gordon received a technical foul. However, Smart fouled first, so Gordon made one of two free throws.

Doncic was fouled, Murray scored on a jump shot. With one minute remaining, the Lakers led by six. The Nuggets used a foul strategy; Smart made one of two free throws, the Lakers grabbed the rebound, and Doncic made both free throws.

The game was decided, with the Lakers winning 115-107 over the Nuggets. James finished with 19 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists; Doncic had 38 points, 13 rebounds, 10 assists, and 2 steals; Smart scored 15 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist; Ayton had 4 points and 8 rebounds; LaRavia contributed 7 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists; Hachimura added 9 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist; Hayes scored 9 points, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks; Vander Blue grabbed 4 rebounds and 2 assists; Vincent scored 5 points; Timmy had 9 points and 3 rebounds.