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    Sunday, May 05, 2024

    NBA roundup

    The Lakers' LeBron James, right, passes over Denver's Nikola Jokic (15) and Paul Millsap during the first half of Thursday's game in Los Angeles. The Lakers won, 121-114. (Alex Gallardo/AP Photo)

    Lakers 121, Nuggets 114

    LeBron James had 28 points, 11 assists and 11 rebounds while leading the Lakers' late rally for his first home victory at Staples Center over previously unbeaten Denver on Thursday night.

    Kyle Kuzma scored 22 points and JaVale McGee added 21 to complement James' 74th career triple-double, his first with his new team.

    With Kobe Bryant watching from a courtside seat for the first time since LeBron's arrival in LA, the Lakers trailed by eight points with six minutes left in the fourth quarter before Lance Stephenson started a 15-2 rally with back-to-back 3-pointers. Stephenson finished with 12 points.

    James got Staples Center rocking on a go-ahead dunk with 3:31 to play before Lonzo Ball made an artful step-back 3-pointer. Kuzma added two huge dunks down the stretch of Los Angeles' second win in two days after an 0-3 start.

    Nikola Jokic scored 24 points for the Nuggets, who were off to their best start since the 2009-10 season. Jamal Murray scored 22 points and Monte Morris had 20, but Denver couldn't answer the Lakers' rally led by James, who posted his third career triple-double in Staples Center for his third different team.

    One night after earning their first win of the LeBron era in Phoenix, the Lakers beat the Nuggets at Staples for the fourth straight time.

    The Lakers also survived despite their third straight game without suspended starters Brandon Ingram and Rajon Rondo. Ingram will miss one more game for his role in the Lakers' brawl with the Houston Rockets last weekend, while Rondo can return Saturday in San Antonio.

    Neither team led by more than six points in the first three quarters of a typically up-tempo game between two of the NBA's fastest offenses. While the Lakers lead the league in pace of play, the Nuggets' improvements on defense this season drove their unbeaten start, according to coach Michael Malone.

    Trail Blazers 128, Magic 114

    Damian Lillard scored 34 of his 41 points in the second half to help Portland beat Orlando.

    CJ McCollum added 22 points, and Jusuf Nurkic had 18 points and 10 rebounds.

    Nikola Vucevic led Orlando with 24 points and 11 rebounds. Terrence Ross had 21 points.

    Lillard and McCollum re-entered the game with 7:54 left after Orlando cut a 13-point deficit to three at 102-99 on Gordon's second 3-pointer of the quarter. The guards combined to score 22 of Portland's final 26 points to seal the win. Lillard had 19 points in the third quarter.

    Pistons 110, Cavaliers 103

    Andre Drummond had 26 points and 22 rebounds, and Detroit improved to 4-0 and dropped Cleveland to 0-6 for the first time since 2003-04 — when LeBron James was a rookie.

    Blake Griffin scored 26 points in his first game since a 50-point night against Philadelphia on Tuesday. Reggie Jackson added 16 points.

    Kyle Korver led Cleveland with 21 points. Kevin Love missed the game because of a sore left foot.

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