LOS ANGELES -- — Luka Doncic had 31 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in just three quarters of work, and the Los Angeles Lakers routed the Denver Nuggets 120-108 on Wednesday night in a matchup of injury-depleted Western Conference contenders.

Nikola Jokic (elbow) and Jamal Murray (ankle) missed their second straight games for Denver, while LeBron James (hamstring) and Rui Hachimura (knee) continued their longer-term absences for Los Angeles.

Austin Reaves had 22 points and eight assists for the Lakers, who have won nine consecutive home games and three straight since finishing their 0-4 road trip last Friday with a loss at Denver.

Aaron Gordon scored 26 points for the Nuggets.

The Lakers scored a season-high 46 points in the first quarter led by Doncic, who scorched Denver for 21 points in his highest-scoring quarter of the season. He missed the Lakers’ 131-126 loss to Denver last Friday, when the Lakers nearly won without him and James.

Los Angeles led by 28 after three quarters, allowing Doncic to get extra rest amid five home games in seven days.

Bronny James played the final 3:58.

Takeaways

Nuggets: Even without Jokic and Murray, offense wasn't the problem. Los Angeles made 60% of its shots in the first three quarters.

Lakers: Doncic dominated early, but they're thriving with balance. Six Lakers scored in double figures, and big men Jaxson Hayes and Christian Koloko played solid defense.

Key moment

Doncic was afire from the opening tip, scoring nine points in less than three minutes and 20 points in about eight minutes. He led an 18-2 run midway through the first quarter with three 3-pointers and three assists before cooling off.

Key stat

Doncic scored 30 points for the 200th time in his NBA career. He's done it eight times in 16 games with LA.

Up next

The Nuggets visit the Trail Blazers on Friday. The Lakers host the Bucks on Thursday.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

Play By Play

Recent plays and game events

TIME	PLAY
12:00	Aaron Gordon vs. Jaxson Hayes (Luka Doncic gains possession)	0	0
11:42	Jaxson Hayes makes 2-foot dunk (Luka Doncic assists)	2	0
11:28	Michael Porter Jr. misses 26-foot three point jumper	2	0
11:25	Luka Doncic defensive rebound	2	0
11:16	Luka Doncic makes 11-foot pullup jump shot	4	0
11:16	Aaron Gordon shooting foul	4	0
11:16	Luka Doncic misses free throw 1 of 1	4	0
11:13	Jaxson Hayes offensive rebound	4	0
10:59	Luka Doncic makes 1-foot two point shot	6	0
10:42	Russell Westbrook misses 26-foot three point pullup jump shot	6	0
10:40	Jordan Goodwin defensive rebound	6	0
10:18	Austin Reaves makes 26-foot three point step back jumpshot	9	0
10:04	Luka Doncic shooting foul	9	0
10:04	Aaron Gordon makes free throw 1 of 2	9	1
10:04	Aaron Gordon makes free throw 2 of 2	9	2
9:45	Luka Doncic makes driving layup	11	2
9:34	Aaron Gordon traveling	11	2
9:17	Luka Doncic makes 25-foot three point step back jumpshot	14	2
9:16	Nuggets Full timeout	14	2
9:02	Russell Westbrook makes 27-foot three point jumper (Michael Porter Jr. assists)	14	5
8:41	Luka Doncic misses 28-foot three point pullup jump shot	14	5
8:38	Aaron Gordon defensive rebound	14	5
8:33	Peyton Watson makes two point shot (Russell Westbrook assists)	14	7
8:11	Michael Porter Jr. shooting foul	14	7
8:11	Luka Doncic makes free throw 1 of 2	15	7
8:11	Luka Doncic makes free throw 2 of 2	16	7
8:02	Christian Braun makes 3-foot layup (Russell Westbrook assists)	16	9
7:43	Jaxson Hayes makes 2-foot alley oop dunk shot (Luka Doncic assists)	18	9
7:25	Aaron Gordon makes 25-foot three point jumper (Russell Westbrook assists)	18	12
7:07	Jordan Goodwin misses 22-foot three point jumper	18	12
7:04	Jaxson Hayes offensive rebound	18	12
6:59	Dorian Finney-Smith misses 23-foot three point jumper	18	12
6:57	Christian Braun defensive rebound	18	12
6:53	Michael Porter Jr. makes 26-foot three point shot (Christian Braun assists)	18	15
6:29	Dorian Finney-Smith makes 26-foot three point jumper (Austin Reaves assists)	21	15
6:12	Dorian Finney-Smith defensive 3-seconds (technical foul)	21	15
6:12	Michael Porter Jr. makes technical free throw	21	16
6:12	Gabe Vincent enters the game for Jordan Goodwin	21	16
6:08	Russell Westbrook out of bounds bad pass turnover	21	16
5:57	Luka Doncic makes 30-foot three pointer	24	16
5:49	Russell Westbrook misses driving layup	24	16
5:47	Russell Westbrook offensive rebound	24	16
5:44	Gabe Vincent personal foul	24	16
5:37	Michael Porter Jr. misses 25-foot three point pullup jump shot	24	16
5:33	Jaxson Hayes defensive rebound	24	16
5:25	Gabe Vincent misses 26-foot three point jumper	24	16
5:25	Peyton Watson defensive rebound	24	16
5:18	Peyton Watson lost ball turnover (Luka Doncic steals)	24	16
5:15	Gabe Vincent makes 27-foot three point jumper (Austin Reaves assists)	27	16
5:15	Nuggets Full timeout	27	16
5:15	Spencer Jones enters the game for Michael Porter Jr.	27	16
5:07	Peyton Watson misses layup	27	16
5:06	Russell Westbrook offensive rebound	27	16
5:06	Russell Westbrook misses tip shot	27	16
5:05	Jaxson Hayes defensive rebound	27	16
4:53	Luka Doncic makes 7-foot two point shot	29	16
4:53	Peyton Watson shooting foul	29	16
4:53	Luka Doncic makes free throw 1 of 1	30	16
4:39	Russell Westbrook bad pass (Dorian Finney-Smith steals)	30	16
4:31	Luka Doncic makes 26-foot three pointer (Gabe Vincent assists)	33	16
4:23	Jaxson Hayes shooting foul	33	16
4:23	Russell Westbrook misses free throw 1 of 2	33	16
4:23	Nuggets offensive team rebound	33	16
4:23	Vlatko Cancar enters the game for Christian Braun	33	16
4:23	Russell Westbrook makes free throw 2 of 2	33	17
4:12	Gabe Vincent makes 22-foot three point jumper (Austin Reaves assists)	36	17
4:02	Aaron Gordon makes 26-foot three pointer	36	20
3:51	Luka Doncic misses 27-foot three point pullup jump shot	36	20
3:48	Vlatko Cancar defensive rebound	36	20
3:40	Jaxson Hayes blocks Russell Westbrook's two point shot	36	20
3:39	Aaron Gordon offensive rebound	36	20
3:38	Aaron Gordon misses 4-foot tip shot	36	20
3:36	Austin Reaves defensive rebound	36	20
3:34	Austin Reaves out of bounds bad pass turnover	36	20
3:34	Jarred Vanderbilt enters the game for Jaxson Hayes	36	20
3:34	Dalton Knecht enters the game for Austin Reaves	36	20
3:21	Russell Westbrook makes 8-foot two point shot	36	22
3:06	Dorian Finney-Smith makes 24-foot three point jumper (Dalton Knecht assists)	39	22
2:54	Russell Westbrook misses driving layup	39	22
2:54	Nuggets offensive team rebound	39	22
2:54	Christian Koloko enters the game for Dorian Finney-Smith	39	22
2:54	Michael Porter Jr. enters the game for Russell Westbrook	39	22
2:54	Zeke Nnaji enters the game for Peyton Watson	39	22
2:54	Jalen Pickett enters the game for Aaron Gordon	39	22
2:46	Vlatko Cancar misses 25-foot three point jumper	39	22
2:41	Michael Porter Jr. offensive rebound	39	22
2:41	Michael Porter Jr. makes tip shot	39	24
2:31	Dalton Knecht makes 25-foot three point jumper (Luka Doncic assists)	42	24
2:30	Nuggets Full timeout	42	24
2:18	Vlatko Cancar misses layup	42	24
2:13	Jarred Vanderbilt defensive rebound	42	24
2:09	Luka Doncic misses running pullup jump shot	42	24
2:06	Vlatko Cancar defensive rebound	42	24
1:58	Zeke Nnaji misses 26-foot three point jumper	42	24
1:55	Luka Doncic defensive rebound	42	24
1:45	Christian Koloko bad pass (Jalen Pickett steals)	42	24
1:41	Spencer Jones makes two point shot (Jalen Pickett assists)	42	26
1:41	Christian Koloko shooting foul	42	26
1:41	Spencer Jones makes free throw 1 of 1	42	27
1:32	Vlatko Cancar shooting foul	42	27
1:32	Dalton Knecht makes free throw 1 of 2	43	27
1:32	Dalton Knecht misses free throw 2 of 2	43	27
1:28	Zeke Nnaji defensive rebound	43	27
1:14	Michael Porter Jr. misses 20-foot step back jumpshot	43	27
1:12	Luka Doncic defensive rebound	43	27
1:07	Christian Koloko makes two point shot	45	27
54.0	Michael Porter Jr. misses 26-foot three point jumper	45	27
50.1	Jalen Pickett offensive rebound	45	27
49.1	Jalen Pickett makes 14-foot step back jumpshot	45	29
35.2	Spencer Jones personal take foul	45	29
35.2	Luka Doncic misses free throw 1 of 2	45	29
35.2	Lakers offensive team rebound	45	29
35.2	Luka Doncic makes free throw 2 of 2	46	29
16.1	Luka Doncic blocks Zeke Nnaji 's 3-foot driving layup	46	29
16.1	Lakers defensive team rebound	46	29
16.1	Christian Braun enters the game for Michael Porter Jr.	46	29
16.1	Peyton Watson enters the game for Vlatko Cancar	46	29
4.1	Luka Doncic misses 19-foot two point shot	46	29
1.1	Jalen Pickett defensive rebound	46	29
0.0	End of the 1st Quarter	46	29

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Game Information

Time, Location & Referees

Venue

crypto.com Arena

Los Angeles, CA

Date & Time

2:00 AM, March 20, 2025

Coverage

ESPN, Spectrum Sports Net, ERADM, Altitude Sports

Attendance

18,997

Referees

Zach Zarba, Ray Acosta, Natalie Sago

2025-26 Northwest Standings

TEAM	W	L	PCT	STRK
Oklahoma City	46	15	.754	W1
Denver	37	23	.617	L1
Minnesota	37	23	.617	W2
Portland	29	32	.475	L1
Utah	18	42	.300	L5

2025-26 Pacific Standings

TEAM	W	L	PCT	STRK
LA Lakers	35	24	.593	W1
Phoenix	34	26	.567	W1
Golden State	31	29	.517	L1
LA Clippers	27	31	.466	L3
Sacramento	14	47	.230	W1

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Luka Doncic scores 31 after a big 1st quarter, and the Lakers rout the depleted Nuggets 120-108

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