Lakers Rally Past Nuggets After Dominant Second Half

DENVER — The Los Angeles Lakers erased a double-digit halftime deficit and pulled away late to defeat the Denver Nuggets 115–107 on Monday night, riding a dominant second half and a standout performance from Luka Dončić.

The Lakers trailed by as many as 16 points in the first half and went into the break down 71–57 before tightening defensively and flipping the momentum after halftime. Los Angeles outscored Denver 58–36 in the second half, limiting the Nuggets to just 36 points over the final two quarters.

Dončić led all scorers with 38 points, adding 13 rebounds and 10 assists to record a triple-double. He controlled the tempo throughout the comeback, repeatedly finding open shooters and attacking mismatches as Denver’s offense stalled.

LeBron James finished with 19 points, while Marcus Smart added 15, including key free throws late in the fourth quarter that helped seal the win. The Lakers shot more efficiently in the second half and forced a series of turnovers that led to transition opportunities.

Caption: A second-half turnover by Denver during its loss to the Lakers. (see more NBA game-day pictures)

Denver, playing without Nikola Jokić, relied heavily on Jamal Murray early. Murray scored 26 of his 28 points in the first half, but was limited to just two points after intermission as the Lakers adjusted their defensive coverage. Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson each scored 18 points for the Nuggets, while Spencer Jones added 16.

The Nuggets’ early shooting success faded after halftime, as missed shots and limited ball movement stalled their offense down the stretch. Los Angeles took control midway through the fourth quarter and never relinquished the lead.

The victory marked a strong road performance for the Lakers and highlighted their ability to adjust defensively after a slow start. Denver, meanwhile, dropped its second straight game as it continues to navigate injuries and rotation changes.