Los Angeles Lakers ahead LeBron James, left, and Denver Nuggets middle Nikola Jokic (15) embrace after an NBA basketball sport Saturday, March 2, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photograph/Yannick Peterhans)

LOS ANGELES — LeBron James reached 40,000 factors, however Nikola Jokic had 35 factors and 10 rebounds because the Denver Nuggets made a late push to beat the Los Angeles Lakers 124-114 on Saturday evening within the NBA.

Aaron Gordon hit a 3-pointer with 3:49 remaining to place Denver again in entrance, and the Nuggets closed on a 16-6 run for his or her sixth straight win. Michael Porter Jr. made all 5 of his 3s to complete with 25 factors, Jamal Murray had 24 factors and 11 assists, and Gordon ended up with 18 factors.

James had 26 factors and 9 assists whereas checking off his newest milestone, however the Lakers couldn’t get their third straight win. Rui Hachimura had 23 factors, and Anthony Davis added 17 factors and 11 rebounds as all 5 Los Angeles starters had no less than 17 factors.

The Joker placed on a present in the course of the 2023 WCF rematch in LA 🃏

35 PTS
10 REB
7 AST
W pic.twitter.com/IUVVSIAjYm

— NBA (@NBA) March 3, 2024

James spun round Porter and drove the lane to hit a layup with 10:39 left within the second quarter to grow to be the first NBA player with 40,000 points whereas extending his lead because the league’s profession scoring chief.

James obtained a standing ovation on the subsequent timeout, whereas coach Darvin Ham gave him a congratulatory pat on the chest as he got here to the sideline. There was an in-arena video presentation, which was preceded and adopted by James elevating the ball over his head to the delight of followers, a lot of whom had been sporting his Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Warmth or St. Vincent–St. Mary Excessive College jersey.

James had 11 factors within the history-making first half, serving to the Lakers take a 66-58 lead on the break. Davis, Hachimura and D’Angelo Russell every had 13 factors, with Los Angeles taking pictures 57.4% from the sphere (27 for 47).

Jokic was his typical prolific self, pacing the Nuggets with 16 factors, 5 rebounds and 4 assists within the half. Porter made all three of his 3-point makes an attempt, however the remainder of Denver shot 2 for 11 (18.2%) from deep.

Jokic ran off 13 straight factors for the Nuggets within the third quarter to place them up by as many as 4 earlier than the Lakers tied it at 89 going into the fourth.

NEXT SCHEDULE

Nuggets: Host Phoenix on Tuesday.

Lakers: Host Oklahoma Metropolis on Monday.