By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Nikola Jokic led the Denver Nuggets to a 120–113 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers at Ball Arena, outlasting fellow superstar Luka Doncic in a high-stakes European clash. Despite committing nine turnovers in 38 minutes, the Serbian center anchored Denver with a dominant triple-double, recording 28 points, 13 assists, and 12 rebounds. His clutch basket with 22.3 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter sealed the win.
Opposing the Serbian superstar, Slovenian Doncic paced the Lakers with 27 points on 11-of-24 shooting, adding 11 rebounds and seven assists. However, he received his 15th technical foul of the 2025–26 NBA Regular Season, moving him just one shy of an automatic one-game suspension.
The team coached by JJ Redick never led in Denver, falling to a 37–25 record and snapping a three-game winning streak. Improving to 39–24, the Nuggets remained fifth in the Western Conference standings, extending their lead over the sixth-seeded Lakers to 1.5 games.
With German Maxi Kleber already ruled out for Thursday’s game due to back soreness, Deandre Ayton was forced into an early exit with left knee soreness, leaving the interior defense vulnerable. Additionally, LeBron James, who emerged as the league’s all-time leader in field goals, was unavailable down the stretch due to discomfort from a left elbow injury.
Beyond the headliners, European action included Lithuanian Jonas Valanciunas, who contributed four points on 4-of-4 from the free-throw line, four rebounds, and one assist in ten minutes off the bench for Denver.