LeBron James set the record but was out with injury in the Lakers’ loss to the Nuggets

Nikola Jokic had 28 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds to overcome nine turnovers, and the host Denver Nuggets beat the Los Angeles Lakers 120-113 on Thursday night in a key Western Conference matchup.

LeBron James finished with 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting to reach another milestone in his 23rd season. James entered the night second behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in field goals scored in NBA history and passed the all-time great with a 12-foot turnaround jumper in the first quarter.

James, who has now taken 15,842 career shots, didn’t make it to the end of the game. He exited with 3:58 remaining in the fourth quarter after making a layup, falling to the floor and injuring his left elbow.

In the first quarter, Los Angeles’ Deandre Ayton left for good with a knee injury. Coach JJ Redick had no substantive updates on either player postgame.

Jamal Murray scored 28 points, Julian Strawther had 18 points, Christian Braun had 15 points and Tim Hardaway Jr. added 14 points off the bench for the Nuggets.

Luka Doncic had 27 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists but committed his 15th technical foul of the season in the second quarter. One more and he’ll serve a one-game suspension.

Jaxson Hayes scored 19 points and Rui Hachimura and Austin Reaves finished with 16 points each for the Lakers, whose three-game winning streak was snapped.

Denver, playing without its four best forwards, led the entire game. The Nuggets took a 102-91 lead early in the fourth quarter when Los Angeles rallied, taking a 112-111 lead with 2:05 remaining after Reaves split a pair of free throws.

Jokic hit a short hook shot to build a three-point lead, and then followed Smart’s missed 3-pointer with a layup to make it 116-111 with 22.3 seconds left.

Doncic missed a 3-pointer from the top of the arc with 20.1 seconds left and Denver closed it at the goal line.

The two teams traded blows in the first half, with the Nuggets leading by as many as 15 points, and taking a 64-54 lead into halftime.

The Lakers pulled within 82-78 midway through the third quarter, Denver came back with an 11 lead but Doncic hit a pair of 3-pointers in the final minute, including a bank shot from a sharp angle to make it 93-86 heading into the fourth.

–Field Level Media