Denver Nuggets’ Nicola Jokic reacts as Anthony Davis # 3 of the Los Angeles Lakers after scoring # 15 during the second half of a game at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California on April 03, 2022. (Photo by Shawn M. Hafi / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
Nicola Jokic had 38 points and 18 rebounds, Will Burton scored 25 points and the visiting Denver Nuggets beat the Los Angeles Lakers 129-118 on Sunday.
Los Angeles (31-47), who was without LeBron James due to ankle pain, has lost six games in a row.
Aaron Gordon added 24 points, DeMarcas Cousin added 14 and Bones Highland and Devon Reid added 10 points (47-32). Denver moved to first place in the Northwest Division with a half-game over Utah and is currently fifth in the Western Conference.
Anthony Davis had 28 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, Russell Westbrook added 27 points and 10 rebounds, Carmelo Anthony 17, owner Monk 11 and Avery Bradley 10 points, all 11th in the West. Danger of missing the play-in round.
🔥 38 PTS, 18 REB, 6 AST, 3 STL, 2 BLK
Nikola Jokic leaves for 38 points in LA, drops a huge double-double @ Nuggets To win! #Milehai basketball pic.twitter.com/cM4umSMAMW
– NBA (BANBA) April 3, 2022
Los Angeles trailed by one point after three quarters but went 99-98 3-points ahead of Anthony. The Cousins gave them a 106-104 lead, scoring six of the next eight Nuggets points.
After Davis missed, Burton hit a 3-pointer in a corner and Jokic hit a jumper to make it 111-104. For the Lakers, Tallinn scored Horton-Tucker but the Jokic made a bank shot, Reid inbound pass and two free throws and Monte Morris a steal that took a pair of foul shots for the 117-106 lead with 4:46 remaining.
Burton’s other 3-pointer gave Denver a 120-110 lead with 3:42 remaining. Los Angeles cut it to six in Westbrook’s two free throws, but the Lakers missed five of their six field goals and held the Nuggets.
The Lakers led by nine in the second quarter but Denver went ahead. Burton’s three free throws with 0.8 seconds left give the Nuggets a 62-61 lead at halftime.
The Lakers started the second half with a 15-7 lead to 76-69, but Denver tied for 9-28 at 78. , But the Nuggets led the way again with four and finally 95-94 leading in the fourth quarter.
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