Lakers forward LeBron James, left, drives the baseline as Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray defends during the first half on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Lakers center Jaxson Hayes (11) is fouled by Denver Nuggets center Zeke Nnaji (22) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Lakers forward Drew Timme loses the ball against Denver Nuggets forward Tim Hardaway Jr. (10) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Denver Nuggets guard Peyton Watson (8) blocks a shot by Lakers forward LeBron James (23) as Denver Nuggets center Zeke Nnaji (22) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Lakers forward LeBron James, left, fouls Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray during the first half on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Lakers center Jaxson Hayes (11) is fouled by Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Lakers star Luka Doncic passes the ball around Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Lakers forward LeBron James (23) shoots against Denver Nuggets forward Tim Hardaway Jr. (10) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Lakers forward LeBron James reacts after a dunk against the Denver Nuggets during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray handles the ball as Lakers guard Gabe Vincent defends during the first half on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in Denver. (Photo by Tanner Pearson/Clarkson Creative/Getty Images)
Lakers star Luka Doncic handles the ball as Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray defends during the first half on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in Denver. (Photo by Tanner Pearson/Clarkson Creative/Getty Images)
Lakers forward Rui Hachimura (28) blocks a pass by Denver Nuggets forward Tim Hardaway Jr. (10) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray celebrates a 3-point basket against the Lakers during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Lakers forward Jake LaRavia drives to the basket as Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray defends during the first half on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in Denver. (Photo by Tanner Pearson/Clarkson Creative/Getty Images)
Denver Nuggets guard Peyton Watson (8) goes up for a shot against Lakers star Luka Doncic during the second half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Lakers head coach JJ Redick looks on from the sideline during the first half of their game against the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in Denver. (Photo by Tanner Pearson/Clarkson Creative/Getty Images)
Lakers star LeBron James dunks against the Denver Nuggets during the first half on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in Denver. (Photo by Tanner Pearson/Clarkson Creative/Getty Images)
Lakers center Deandre Ayton reacts to being injured against the Denver Nuggets during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Denver Nuggets forward Spencer Jones, left, fouls Lakers forward Luka Doncic during the first half on Tuesday night in Denver. Doncic had a 38-point triple-double as the Lakers rallied for a 115-107 win. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Denver Nuggets forward Spencer Jones, left, fouls Lakers forward Luka Doncic during the first half on Tuesday night in Denver. Doncic had a 38-point triple-double as the Lakers rallied for a 115-107 win. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Lakers star Luka Doncic reacts to a technical foul during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Denver Nuggets guard Peyton Watson (8) shoots over Lakers forward LeBron James (23) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Lakers star LeBron James drives to the basket as Denver Nuggets guard Tim Hardaway Jr. defends during the first half on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in Denver. (Photo by Tanner Pearson/Clarkson Creative/Getty Images)
Lakers forward Drew Timme celebrates a 3-point basket against the Denver Nuggets during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Lakers center Jaxson Hayes (11). dunks against the Denver Nuggets during the second half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Denver Nuggets guard Peyton Watson brings the ball up court against the Lakers during the second half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Lakers forward LeBron James (23) reacts to a Denver Nuggets 3-point basket during the second half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon dunks against the Lakers during the second half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Lakers head coach JJ Redick reacts against the Denver Nuggets during the second half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon (32) collides with Lakers forward LeBron James (23) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon (32) loses the ball against Lakers forward LeBron James (23) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Denver Nuggets head coach David Adelman reacts during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Lakers Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Lakers forward LeBron James celebrates a 3-point basket against the Denver Nuggets during the second half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Denver Nuggets forward Bruce Brown (11) goes up for a shot as Lakers forward Rui Hachimura defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Injured Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic, right, and Lakers star LeBron James talk during a timeout in the fourth quarter on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in Denver. (Photo by Tanner Pearson/Clarkson Creative/Getty Images)
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray drives to the basket as Lakers stars Luka Doncic, left, and LeBron James chase after him during the fourth quarter on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in Denver. (Photo by Tanner Pearson/Clarkson Creative/Getty Images)
Lakers star LeBron James drives to the basket as Denver Nuggets guard Tim Hardaway Jr., left, and forward Bruce Brown, right, defend during the second half on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in Denver. (Photo by Tanner Pearson/Clarkson Creative/Getty Images)
Denver Nuggets center Zeke Nnaji dunks against the Lakers during the second half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Lakers star Luka Doncic reacts during the second half of a game against the Denver Nuggets Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon reacts to a technical foul during the second half of a game against the Lakers on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Lakers star Luka Doncic, right, and center Jaxson Hayes celebrate after a foul call against the Denver Nuggets during the fourth quarter on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in Denver. (Photo by Tanner Pearson/Clarkson Creative/Getty Images)
Injured Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić looks on during the second half of a game against the Lakers Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray looks on during the final seconds of the team’s loss to the Lakers on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Lakers star Luka Doncic smiles while warming up against the Denver Nuggets before an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
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Lakers forward LeBron James, left, drives the baseline as Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray defends during the first half on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
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 (26-16), who played the second half without center Deandre Ayton after he was poked in the eye. Marcus Smart added 15 points.
“Just contributions from everybody,” Coach JJ Redick said, singling out Jaxson Hayes, Drew Timme and Jarred Vanderbilt for key contributions in supporting roles. “It was a great team win.”
Jamal Murray scored 26 of his 28 points in the first half for Denver (29-15) and added 11 assists, but he shot just 1 for 5 from the field in the second half when the Nuggets were outscored 58-36. Peyton Watson and Aaron Gordon had 18 points each, and Spencer Jones added 16 points.
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).
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.
Denver extended the lead to 16 early in the third quarter but the Lakers scored 13 straight to pull within 80-77 midway through the period. The Nuggets answered to lead 88-81, but James hit a 3-pointer and a layup to get the Lakers within 88-86 heading into the fourth.
“It showed the character of our team,” Doncic said of how the Lakers bounced back from the end of the first half. “… We just stayed together.”
Doncic scored or assisted on 11 unanswered Lakers at one point during their third-quarter surge.
“Luka, you can’t turn the engine halfway with him,” Redick said. “Once the engine’s on, like he’s in kill mode. And it’s on me as a coach to make sure that everybody else is involved, and it’s on him too, on the court, to make sure that. And truthfully, I think he’s done a phenomenal job of that the last couple weeks.”
The Lakers tied it early in the fourth and had two chances to take their first lead of the night, but Gabe Vincent missed a free throw and James turned it over. It was tied again at 96-all when Doncic made a pair of free throws with 6:42 left to give the Lakers their first lead.
Denver then turned it over twice and Smart hit three free throws and a corner 3-pointer to extend the lead to 104-96. The Nuggets missed four times on their next possession during a stretch of 10 straight missed shots as the Lakers held a 108-96 lead after a 16-0 run. Watson ended the drought with a 3-pointer.
Watson stole an inbounds pass and Gordon hit a 3-pointer to make it 108-102 with 2:15 left, but James’ dunk sealed the win.
ALL-STAR STATUS
While Doncic was voted in as an All-Star starter for the Feb. 15 event at the Intuit Dome, James will have to wait for a vote from coaches or a special selection from NBA commissioner Adam Silver to earn his 22nd All-Star honor. “Given the missed games early, wasn’t surprised,” Redick said, referring to James missing the first 14 games of the season because of sciatica. “I believe he’ll be in the All-Star Game.”
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.
“Contributions from everybody… great team win.”
JJ Redick speaks with the media after the #Lakers go to Denver and defeat the Nuggets, 115-107. #LakeShow pic.twitter.com/JjCyR3imfY
— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) January 21, 2026
“Take it one game at a time; we’re 1-0 on an 8-game road trip.”
LeBron James (19 PTS, 9 REB, 8 AST) talks with @LakersReporter after the #LakeShow down the Nuggets, 115-107. pic.twitter.com/du9Z3L2Aj2
— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) January 21, 2026
“We kept together.” #LakeShow
Luka Dončić (38 PTS, 13 REB, 10 AST, 2 STL) speaks with the media after the #Lakers go to Denver and defeat the Nuggets, 115-107. Get closer to the action with Spectrum SportsNet+.
🔗: https://t.co/k8Sa1tLkWs pic.twitter.com/Qx0tbG6UC4
— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) January 21, 2026
“We just stayed the course; that was big.”
Marcus Smart (15 PTS, 2 REB, AST) talks with the media after the #Lakers defeat the Nuggets, 115-107. #LakeShow pic.twitter.com/AQEHhkHOAh
— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) January 21, 2026