Game ID: 22500906
Los Angeles Lakers @ Denver Nuggets
Thursday, March 5, 2026 at 10:00 PM ET
Ball Arena, Denver, CO
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
DEN 32 32 29 27 120LAL 22 32 32 27 113
DEN vs LAL ScoutingDEN vs LAL Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
DEN availability going into 2/25 · 2 days' restOUT Watson missed 6 since 2/07, out tonight
OUT Gordon missed 12 since 1/27, out tonight
OUT Pickett missed 3 since 2/19, out tonight
BACK Jones back 2/19 after 3, 20 min since (88% of 22)
BACK Nnaji back 2/20 after 3, 8 min since (70% of 12)
NEW Strawther 15 to 25 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 2/27 · 1 day's restOUT Watson missed 7 since 2/07, out tonight
OUT Gordon missed 13 since 1/27, out tonight
OUT Pickett missed 4 since 2/19, out tonight
BACK Jones back 2/19 after 3, 21 min since (95% of 22)
BACK Nnaji back 2/20 after 3, 8 min since (64% of 12)
NEW Strawther 15 to 25 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 3/01 · 1 day's restOUT Watson missed 8 since 2/07, out tonight
OUT Gordon missed 14 since 1/27, out tonight
OUT Pickett missed 5 since 2/19, returns tonight: 6 min (41% of 16)
BACK Jones back 2/19 after 3, 18 min since (78% of 22)
BACK Nnaji back 2/20 after 3, 8 min since (64% of 12)
NEW Strawther 15 to 23 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 3/02 · back-to-backOUT Watson missed 9 since 2/07, out tonight
OUT Gordon missed 15 since 1/27, out tonight
BACK Pickett back 3/01 after 5, 6 min since (41% of 16)
BACK Nnaji back 2/20 after 3, 7 min since (60% of 12)
NEW Strawther 15 to 21 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 3/05 · 2 days' restOUT Watson missed 10 since 2/07, out tonight
OUT Gordon missed 16 since 1/27, out tonight
OUT Jones missed 2 since 3/01, out tonight
BACK Pickett back 3/01 after 5, 12 min since (80% of 16)
NEW Brown 24 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Strawther 15 to 21 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 3/06 · back-to-backOUT Johnson missed 2 since 3/02, returns tonight: 22 min (71% of 31)
OUT Watson missed 11 since 2/07, out tonight
OUT Gordon missed 17 since 1/27, returns tonight: 22 min (77% of 28)
OUT Jones missed 3 since 3/01, returns tonight: 10 min (44% of 22)
BACK Pickett back 3/01 after 5, 12 min since (80% of 16)
NEW Brown 24 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Strawther 15 to 23 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 3/09 · 2 days' restOUT Watson missed 12 since 2/07, out tonight
BACK Johnson back 3/06 after 2, 22 min since (71% of 31)
BACK Gordon back 3/06 after 17, 22 min since (77% of 28)
BACK Jones back 3/06 after 3, 10 min since (44% of 22)
BACK Pickett back 3/01 after 5, 11 min since (73% of 16)
NEW Braun 32 to 37 min over the last 5
NEW Strawther 15 to 21 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 3/11 · 1 day's restOUT Watson missed 13 since 2/07, out tonight
BACK Johnson back 3/06 after 2, 22 min since (73% of 31)
BACK Gordon back 3/06 after 17, 25 min since (89% of 28)
BACK Jones back 3/06 after 3, 13 min since (57% of 22)
BACK Pickett back 3/01 after 5, 11 min since (73% of 16)
DEN availability going into 3/12 · back-to-backOUT Watson missed 14 since 2/07, out tonight
BACK Johnson back 3/06 after 2, 23 min since (75% of 31)
BACK Gordon back 3/06 after 17, 24 min since (86% of 28)
BACK Jones back 3/06 after 3, 15 min since (67% of 22)
LAL availability going into 2/26 · 1 day's restOUT Smith Jr. missed 4 since 2/12, out tonight
BACK Dončić back 2/20 after 4, 36 min since (101% of 36)
BACK Ayton back 2/20 after 2, 28 min since (103% of 27)
LAL availability going into 2/28 · 1 day's restOUT Smith Jr. missed 5 since 2/12, out tonight
BACK Dončić back 2/20 after 4, 37 min since (103% of 36)
BACK Ayton back 2/20 after 2, 27 min since (98% of 27)
LAL availability going into 3/01 · back-to-backOUT Hachimura missed 2 since 2/26, returns tonight: 22 min (75% of 30)
OUT Smith Jr. missed 6 since 2/12, out tonight
BACK Dončić back 2/20 after 4, 35 min since (99% of 36)
BACK Ayton back 2/20 after 2, 25 min since (93% of 27)
LAL availability going into 3/03 · 1 day's restOUT Smith Jr. missed 7 since 2/12, out tonight
BACK Hachimura back 3/01 after 2, 22 min since (75% of 30)
LAL availability going into 3/05 · 1 day's restOUT Vanderbilt missed 2 since 3/01, returns tonight: 4 min (24% of 17)
OUT Smith Jr. missed 8 since 2/12, out tonight
BACK Hachimura back 3/01 after 2, 20 min since (69% of 30)
LAL availability going into 3/06 · back-to-backOUT Smith Jr. missed 9 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Kleber missed 2 since 3/03, out tonight
BACK Hachimura back 3/01 after 2, 23 min since (78% of 30)
BACK Vanderbilt back 3/05 after 2, 4 min since (24% of 17)
LAL availability going into 3/08 · 1 day's restOUT Smith Jr. missed 10 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Kleber missed 3 since 3/03, returns tonight: 10 min (97% of 10)
BACK Hachimura back 3/01 after 2, 23 min since (78% of 30)
BACK Vanderbilt back 3/05 after 2, 13 min since (75% of 17)
LAL availability going into 3/10 · 1 day's restOUT James missed 2 since 3/06, out tonight
OUT Smith Jr. missed 11 since 2/12, out tonight
BACK Hachimura back 3/01 after 2, 26 min since (87% of 30)
BACK Vanderbilt back 3/05 after 2, 12 min since (71% of 17)
BACK Kleber back 3/08 after 3, 10 min since (97% of 10)
LAL availability going into 3/12 · 1 day's restOUT James missed 3 since 3/06, returns tonight: 33 min (98% of 34)
OUT Smith Jr. missed 12 since 2/12, out tonight
BACK Vanderbilt back 3/05 after 2, 13 min since (75% of 17)
BACK Kleber back 3/08 after 3, 10 min since (97% of 10)
NEW Hayes 18 to 23 min over the last 4
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 116, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 26 free throws a game; Jokić at 29 and Murray at 26 a game. Without Watson (10 straight), Gordon (16 straight), Jones (2 straight). 2 days' rest. The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 106, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 24 free throws a game; Dončić at 29 and James at 21 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Vanderbilt (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the defense, the Lakers allowing 106 a night to Denver's 116 and the arc, the Lakers at 39 percent from three to Denver's 34. Call it Denver 116, the Lakers 115, the Lakers keeping it close.
2/25 vs BOS 103-84 — DEN notes
DEN won 103-84. DEN shot 42% (39 of 93) to BOS's 35%, 15 of 43 from three. DEN turned it over 8 times to BOS's 13. Jokić led with 30 (11 of 28, 4 of 13 from three, 4 of 7 at the line); Hardaway Jr. added 14, Strawther 12. The hinge was Q3, 30-19: DEN came in trailing by 1 and left it ahead by 10, and the lead reached 19. DEN trailed 47-48 at the half and won the second half 56-36. Jones was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
2/27 @ OKC 121-127 — DEN notes
DEN lost 121-127 in 1 overtime. DEN shot 42% (43 of 103) to OKC's 46%, 18 of 48 from three. DEN turned it over 17 times to OKC's 12, and OKC turned those into 14 steals. Murray led with 39 (12 of 26, 7 of 13 from three, 8 of 10 at the line); Braun added 23, Jokić 23. Q1 was theirs, 33-19, but the other 4 periods went 108-88 against them. They led by as many as 16. Johnson's -25 in 40 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/01 vs MIN 108-117 — DEN notes
DEN lost 108-117. DEN shot 48% (41 of 85) to MIN's 54%, 6 of 22 from three, and went to the line 27 times to MIN's 19 — 20 points from the stripe to their 11. Jokić led with 35 (15 of 26, 1 of 4 from three, 4 of 6 at the line); Murray added 25, Hardaway Jr. 17. Q1 was theirs, 31-22, but the other 3 periods went 95-77 against them. They led by as many as 11. Hardaway Jr.'s -17 in 34 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/02 @ UTA 128-125 — DEN notes
DEN won 128-125. DEN shot 54% (40 of 74) to UTA's 51%, 16 of 39 from three, and went to the line 35 times to UTA's 26 — 32 points from the stripe to their 22. DEN turned it over 15 times to UTA's 9, and UTA turned those into 11 steals. Murray led with 45 (13 of 19, 8 of 13 from three, 11 of 12 at the line); Jokić added 22, Strawther 15. The hinge was Q3, 34-26: DEN came in trailing by 1 and left it ahead by 7. DEN trailed 66-67 at the half and won the second half 62-58. Valančiūnas was the night's best plus/minus at +10.
3/05 vs LAL 120-113 — DEN notes
DEN won 120-113. DEN shot 52% (39 of 75) to LAL's 52%, 14 of 31 from three, and went to the line 31 times to LAL's 15 — 28 points from the stripe to their 10. DEN turned it over 18 times to LAL's 10, and LAL turned those into 12 steals. Murray led with 28 (8 of 17, 5 of 9 from three, 7 of 7 at the line); Jokić added 28, Strawther 18. The hinge was Q1, 32-22: from level to 10 ahead, and the lead reached 15.
3/06 vs NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 113, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 27 free throws a game; Murray at 28 and Jokić at 28 a game. Without Johnson (2 straight), Watson (11 straight), Gordon (17 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. New York comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 99, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 18 free throws a game; Brunson at 23 and Towns at 16 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without McBride (17 straight), Clarkson (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: New York wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, New York allowing 99 a night to Denver's 113 and the line, where Denver takes 27 free throws a game to New York's 18. Call it New York 113, Denver 112, Denver keeping it close.
3/09 @ OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 103, shooting 44 percent and 30 from three, 23 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 30 and Holmgren at 18 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Jal. Williams (10 straight), Mitchell (20 straight), Sandfort (3 straight). One day's rest. Denver comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 125, shooting 48 percent and 34 from three, 29 free throws a game; Murray at 30 and Jokić at 29 a game. Without Watson (12 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the defense, OKC allowing 103 a night to Denver's 125 and the turnovers, Denver giving it away 16 times a game to OKC's 12. Call it OKC 119, Denver 110.
3/11 vs HOU — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 125, shooting 49 percent and 35 from three, 30 free throws a game; Jokić at 31 and Murray at 26 a game. Without Watson (13 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 115, shooting 49 percent and 35 from three, 26 free throws a game; Durant at 25 and Thompson at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 12 a night. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-12 a night and Denver plus-3 and the defense, Houston allowing 115 a night to Denver's 125. Call it Denver 117, Houston 116, Houston keeping it close.
3/12 @ SAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 128 a night and allowing 109, shooting 53 percent and 42 from three, 23 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 29 and Fox at 21 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Barnes (5 straight). One day's rest. Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 120, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 29 free throws a game; Jokić at 27 and Murray at 27 a game. Without Watson (14 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: San Antonio wins, and the game turns on the defense, San Antonio allowing 109 a night to Denver's 120 and the line, where Denver takes 29 free throws a game to San Antonio's 23. Call it San Antonio 123, Denver 113, San Antonio by 10.
2/26 @ PHX 110-113 — LAL notes
LAL lost 110-113. LAL shot 51% (38 of 75) to PHX's 46%, 11 of 29 from three, and went to the line 26 times to PHX's 14 — 23 points from the stripe to their 11. Dončić led with 41 (12 of 21, 6 of 11 from three, 11 of 12 at the line); James added 15, Reaves 14. Q1 was theirs, 27-22, but the other 3 periods went 91-83 against them. They led by as many as 13. Ayton's -24 in 23 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/28 @ GSW 129-101 — LAL notes
LAL won 129-101. LAL shot 53% (48 of 90) to GSW's 45%, 19 of 41 from three, and went to the line 20 times to GSW's 9 — 14 points from the stripe to their 7. Dončić led with 26 (9 of 17, 4 of 9 from three); James added 22, Reaves 18. The hinge was Q1, 33-20: from level to 13 ahead, and the lead reached 32. Dončić was the night's best plus/minus at +26.
3/01 vs SAC 128-104 — LAL notes
LAL won 128-104. LAL shot 50% (47 of 94) to SAC's 47%, 18 of 39 from three, and went to the line 22 times to SAC's 15 — 16 points from the stripe to their 14. LAL turned it over 9 times to SAC's 20. The glass went 37-52 against them. Dončić led with 28 (10 of 16, 4 of 8 from three, 4 of 7 at the line); L. James added 24, Reaves 12. The hinge was Q1, 36-18: from level to 18 ahead, and the lead reached 30. Dončić was the night's best plus/minus at +18.
3/03 vs NOP 110-101 — LAL notes
LAL won 110-101. LAL shot 47% (39 of 83) to NOP's 42%, 11 of 37 from three, and went to the line 26 times to NOP's 19 — 21 points from the stripe to their 17. Dončić led with 27 (10 of 22, 3 of 10 from three); James added 21, Reaves 15. The hinge was Q4, 34-23: LAL came in trailing by 2 and left it ahead by 9. Hayes was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
3/05 @ DEN 113-120 — LAL notes
LAL lost 113-120. LAL took 12 more shots (87 to 75), but shot 52% to DEN's 52%, 13 of 31 from three, and got to the line 15 times to DEN's 31. LAL turned it over 10 times to DEN's 18. Dončić led with 27 (11 of 24, 3 of 10 from three); Hayes added 19, Reaves 16. Q3 was theirs, 32-29, the deficit cut from 10 to 7, but the other 3 periods went 91-81 against them. LaRavia's -16 in 10 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/06 vs IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 108, shooting 51 percent and 41 from three, 22 free throws a game; Dončić at 30 and James at 20 a game. Second night of a back-to-back. Indiana comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 131, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 22 free throws a game; Nembhard at 18 and Walker at 16 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Thompson (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the defense, the Lakers allowing 108 a night to Indiana's 131 and the arc, the Lakers at 41 percent from three to Indiana's 35. Call it the Lakers 122, Indiana 111, the Lakers by 11.
3/08 vs NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 109, shooting 51 percent and 42 from three, 21 free throws a game; Dončić at 30 and James at 21 a game. One day's rest. New York comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 98, shooting 51 percent and 39 from three, 18 free throws a game; Brunson at 20 and Anunoby at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 13 a night. Without McBride (18 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the glass, where New York has been plus-13 a night and the Lakers minus-1 and the defense, New York allowing 98 a night to the Lakers' 109. Call it the Lakers 114, New York 113, New York keeping it close.
3/10 vs MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 108, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 23 free throws a game; Dončić at 32 and James at 20 a game. Without James (2 straight). One day's rest. Minnesota comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 106, shooting 47 percent and 32 from three, 25 free throws a game; Edwards at 30 and Randle at 14 a game. Without Conley (4 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the arc, the Lakers at 39 percent from three to Minnesota's 32. Call it the Lakers 115, Minnesota 110.
3/12 vs CHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 108, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 24 free throws a game; Dončić at 33 and Reaves at 21 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without James (3 straight). One day's rest. Chicago comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 113, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 24 free throws a game; Sexton at 25 and Buzelis at 23 a game. Without Simons (8 straight), Collins (34 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it the Lakers 118, Chicago 112.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
DENBB B. Brown
CB C. Braun
JM J. Murray
JS J. Strawther
JV J. Valančiūnas
JO Jokic
NJ N. Jokić
TH T. Hardaway Jr.
TJ T. Jones
VA Valanciunas
ZN Z. Nnaji
LALAR A. Reaves
DA D. Ayton
DO Doncic
JH J. Hayes
JL J. LaRavia
JV J. Vanderbilt
LD L. Dončić
LJ L. James
LK L. Kennard
MS M. Smart
RH R. Hachimura
DEN/LAL the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
LeBron James breaks the NBA career field goals record in the Lakers' 120-113 loss to the Nuggets
DENVER -- — LeBron James broke Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's record for career field goals in the Los Angeles Lakers ' 120-113 loss to Denver on Thursday night, with the Nuggets getting 28 points each from All-Stars Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic .
James injured his left elbow on a layup that pulled Los Angeles to 110-106 with four minutes to go and left the game. He returned with 2:05 left and the Lakers trailing by a point. The Lakers, however, never were able to take the lead as the Nuggets finished off a crucial wire-to-wire win.
James finished with 16 points to go with Luka Doncic 's 27.
Jokic had his 23rd triple-double of the season with 28 points, 12 rebounds and 13 assists to offset nine turnovers and help the Nuggets (39-24) stay a step ahead of the streaking Lakers (37-25) in the logjammed Western Conference.
Aside from his record-breaking bucket in the first quarter — the 15,838th field goal of his 23-year career — James had a couple of sensational baskets: a corkscrew reverse fastbreak layup and an off-balance, 18-foot turnaround jumper that pulled the Lakers to 64-54 at halftime.
And he had three straight jaw-dropping assists as the Lakers staged a fourth-quarter comeback that fell just short.
The Nuggets jumped out to a 16-3 lead and led by 15 points, but turnovers kept the Lakers within striking distance all night.
Murray's 20 first-half points helped the short-handed and undersized Nuggets stay in control. Forward Aaron Gordon worked out on the court before the game but was again in street clothes by game time. Sidelined since Jan. 23 by a pulled hamstring, Gordon is expected to return to action Friday night against the Knicks.
Denver's other defensive stalwart, guard Peyton Watson , has also been out with a pulled hamstring and the Nuggets were also without forwards Cam Johnson (sprained right ankle) and Spencer Jones (strained right shoulder).
Lakers center Deandre Ayton left in the first half with a knee injury and didn't return.
Doncic picked up his 15th technical foul of the season. He'll face an automatic one-game suspension if he gets another.