Luka Doncic, Lakers pounce on depleted Nuggets for 9th consecutive home win

Lakers guard Austin Reaves, left, scrambles for a loose ball against Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. during the first half on Wednesday night, March 19, 2025, at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Lakers star Luka Doncic gestures during the first half of their game against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night, March 19, 2025, at Crypto.com Arena. Doncic scored 21 of his game-high 31 points in the first quarter of a 120-108 win. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Injured Lakers star LeBron James reacts on the sideline during the first half of their game against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night, March 19, 2025, at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Lakers star Luka Doncic shoots during the first half of their game against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night, March 19, 2025, at Crypto.com Arena. Doncic scored 21 of his game-high 31 points in the first quarter of a 120-108 win. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Lakers star Luka Doncic reacts after a basket during the first half of their game against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night, March 19, 2025, at Crypto.com Arena. Doncic scored 21 of his game-high 31 points in the first quarter of a 120-108 win. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone reacts on the sideline during the first half of their game against the Lakers on Wednesday night, March 19, 2025, at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Lakers star Luka Doncic, right, passes the ball as Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. defends during the first half on Wednesday night, March 19, 2025, at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Lakers guard Austin Reaves shoots as Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook defends during the first half on Wednesday night, March 19, 2025, at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Lakers coach JJ Redick talks to star Luka Doncic during the first half of their game against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night, March 19, 2025, at Crypto.com Arena. Doncic scored 21 of his game-high 31 points in the first quarter of a 120-108 win. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook drives to the basket as Lakers center Jaxson Hayes defends during the first half on Wednesday night, March 19, 2025, at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Lakers star Luka Doncic gestures after making a 3-point shot during the first half of their game against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night, March 19, 2025, at Crypto.com Arena. Doncic scored 21 of his game-high 31 points in the first quarter of a 120-108 win. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt hangs from the rim after a dunk during the first half of their game against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night, March 19, 2025, at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Lakers star Luka Doncic reacts after being hit in the head during the first half of their game against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night, March 19, 2025, at Crypto.com Arena. Doncic scored 21 of his game-high 31 points in the first quarter of a 120-108 win. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Lakers star Luka Doncic controls the ball during the first half of their game against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night, March 19, 2025, at Crypto.com Arena. Doncic scored 21 of his game-high 31 points in the first quarter of a 120-108 win. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook shoots over Lakers center Jaxson Hayes (11) during the first half on Wednesday night, March 19, 2025, at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Injured Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic, left, watches from the bench alongside teammate Russell Westbrook during the first half of their game against the Lakers on Wednesday night, March 19, 2025, at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon drives to the basket in front of Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt during the first half on Wednesday night, March 19, 2025, at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon drives to the basket as Lakers center Jaxson Hayes defends during the first half on Wednesday night, March 19, 2025, at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Lakers star Luka Doncic smiles after scoring during the first half of their game against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night, March 19, 2025, at Crypto.com Arena. Doncic scored 21 of his game-high 31 points in the first quarter of a 120-108 win. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Lakers guard Austin Reaves, left, slaps hands with teammate Luka Doncic after a 3-point shot during the first half of their game against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night, March 19, 2025, at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Lakers head coach JJ Redick, right, talks with injured star LeBron James, left, and assistant coach Greg St. Jean at the end of the first quarter of a game against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night, March 19, 2025, at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook passes the ball during the first half of their game against the Lakers on Wednesday night, March 19, 2025, at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Lakers guard Austin Reaves drives to the basket between the Denver Nuggets’ Zeke Nnaji, left, and Hunter Tyson during the second half on Wednesday night, March 19, 2025, at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Lakers rookie Dalton Knecht drives to the basket during the second half of their game against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night, March 19, 2025, at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Lakers star Luka Doncic drives as Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon defends during the second half on Wednesday night, March 19, 2025, at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Lakers center Christian Koloko dunks during the second half of their game against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night, March 19, 2025, at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Lakers guard Austin Reaves passes the ball during the second half of their game against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night, March 19, 2025, at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Lakers guard Jordan Goodwin drives to the basket as the Denver Nuggets’ Christian Braun defends during the second half on Wednesday night, March 19, 2025, at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Lakers guard Austin Reaves brings the ball up the court during the second half of their game against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night, March 19, 2025, at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Lakers guard Austin Reaves shoots during the second half of their game against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night, March 19, 2025, at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Injured Denver Nuggets star Jamal Murray, center, watches from the bench with teammate DeAndre Jordan, left, during the second half of their game against the Lakers on Wednesday night, March 19, 2025, at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt, left, scrambles for a loose ball with the Denver Nuggets’ Michael Porter Jr. during the second half on Wednesday night, March 19, 2025, at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Lakers guard Austin Reaves handles the ball as the Denver Nuggets’ Hunter Tyson defends during the second half on Wednesday night, March 19, 2025, at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Lakers guard Austin Reaves drives to the basket as the Denver Nuggets’ Hunter Tyson defends during the second half on Wednesday night, March 19, 2025, at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Injured Lakers star LeBron James, far left, reacts on the bench alongside teammates, including Luka Doncic, center, during the second half of their game against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night, March 19, 2025, at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Lakers guard Austin Reaves, left, is fouled by the Denver Nuggets’ Hunter Tyson during the second half on Wednesday night, March 19, 2025, at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Lakers guard Shake Milton, left, shoots as the Denver Nuggets’ Vlatko Cancar defends during the second half on Wednesday night, March 19, 2025, at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Lakers rookie Bronny James waits for play to resume during the second half of their game against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night, March 19, 2025, at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Lakers rookie Bronny James controls the ball during the second half of their game against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night, March 19, 2025, at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Injured Lakers star LeBron James, left, laughs on the bench with teammate Markieff Morris, center, during the second half of their game against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night, March 19, 2025, at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Lakers rookie Bronny James runs down the court during the second half of their game against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night, March 19, 2025, at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels looks on before a game between the Lakers and the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night, March 19, 2025, at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Actress Kate Hudson looks on from a courtside seat during the second half of a game between the Lakers and the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night, March 19, 2025, at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The Laker Girls perform at the end of the first quarter during a game against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night, March 19, 2025, at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Actor Will Ferrell looks on from a courtside seat during a game between the Lakers and the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night, March 19, 2025, at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Choreographer Eboni Nichols, left, and singer/actress Queen Latifah look on before a game between the Lakers and the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night, March 19, 2025, at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Former boxing champion Floyd Mayweather Jr., left, looks on looks on during the second half of a game between the Lakers and the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night, March 19, 2025, at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook sits on the bench before their game against the Lakers on Wednesday night, March 19, 2025, at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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LOS ANGELES — It wasn’t even a week ago that the Lakers were in a similar position to the one the Denver Nuggets were in on Wednesday night – down multiple star players in a pivotal matchup for Western Conference playoff seeding.

The Nuggets were nearly stunned by the Lakers last Friday in Denver, allowing the visitors to stay in the game until the final minute before a strong finish helped them survive.

The Lakers didn’t make the same mistake on Wednesday when they hosted the Nuggets, who were without Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, pulling off a wire-to-wire 120-108 victory behind a strong start from Luka Doncic (31 points, nine rebounds and seven assists).

It was the 200th time Doncic scored at least 30 points in a regular-season game, the eighth in 16 games since he joined the Lakers. He’s scored at least 30 in six of his past eight games.

Doncic led the Lakers (43-25) early, scoring 21 of his points in the first quarter – opening the period by assisting Jaxson Hayes (six points, seven rebounds) on a dunk before scoring multiple baskets inside the arc.

“It’s easy for me to start there, just driving the ball,” Doncic said. “When I drive the ball, it gets better for everybody on the court.”

From there, Doncic did more damage from behind the arc, making three of his four 3-pointers during an 18-2 run midway through the first quarter on a night when the Lakers were in a collective rhythm from the perimeter.

“I don’t know what it was exactly in Dallas, but I know he had a number of big first quarters for them,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said of Doncic, who entered Wednesday third in the league in first-quarter scoring since making his Lakers debut on Feb. 10.

Redick added: “So this is kind of what he does and has done throughout his career.”

The Lakers made 16 of their 38 3-point attempts (42.1%), including four from Gabe Vincent (12 points), three from Dorian Finney-Smith (14 points, four rebounds, four assists) and three from Dalton Knecht (12 points).

“Sometimes teams send three guys at him. It’s just amazing that he finds the open man time and time again,” Vincent said of Doncic. “He makes the game so easy for us, you know, whether he’s getting to the free-throw line himself or walking to the rim or making a tough shot when we need one or finding the open guy over and over again. … He makes the right read every time and that’s something that’s invaluable.”

After Doncic’s hot start, the Nuggets went from switching defensively on screens involving the 26-year-old Slovenian star to trapping and regularly sending help toward him, opening scoring opportunities for his teammates.

“It’s just an advantage so the game gets back to the simplicity of it,” Vincent said. “Someone’s gonna be open. You attack until you can’t attack anymore and find the open man. We’ve done a good job of doing that. We’ve taken care of the ball in those situations as well, which is huge for us.”

Austin Reaves (22 points, eight assists, five rebounds) also made a pair of shots from deep, and Jarred Vanderbilt (10 points) scored in double figures.

The Lakers led 46-29 going into the second quarter after Doncic’s hot start.

“When you’ve got one player that scores 21 of ’em, you’re gonna score a lot of points in the quarter,” Reaves said. “He got it going early. He was frying. When you see that, you just want to keep giving him the ball and let him roll with it.”

That margin grew to 28 points (69-41) midway through the quarter, but the Nuggets cut their deficit to 73-59 behind their offensive rebounding and transition offense.

The Nuggets finished with 12 offensive rebounds and 14 second-chance points, in addition to 26 fast-break points, with half of those (13) coming in the second quarter and a majority of them (21) before halftime.

“Defensively, the only real lapse was that second quarter,” Redick said. “We felt like the game was going to come down to our ability to get back, defend in transition, take care of the basketball and keep them off the glass. And that wasn’t great in the first half. Cleaned all that stuff up in the second half, which was awesome.”

The Lakers indeed regained control in the third, taking a 105-77 lead into the fourth that grew to 30 near the start of the quarter as they moved into third place by percentage points in the tightly packed Western Conference standings.

Neither team played most of its main rotation players in the fourth, allowing Doncic to get extra rest amid a stretch of five home games in seven days.

The short-handed Nuggets (44-26) were led by Aaron Gordon (26 points, 11 rebounds).

Wednesday was the Lakers’ ninth consecutive home win and 16th in their past 17 games at Crypto.com Arena. They have won three straight since returning from an 0-4 road trip.

The Lakers will host the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday to close out the back-to-back set and cap a stretch of six games in eight days.

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