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NIKOLA Jokić had 23 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists, Jamal Murray had 25 and host Denver Nuggets beat the Los Angeles (LA) Lakers (122-105) on Sunday night.
Zeke Nnaji had 16 points, Facundo Campazzo scored 15 and Monte Morris and Paul Millsap each had 10 for the Nuggets.
LeBron James had 22 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists for Los Angeles, which lost to forward Anthony Davis when he aggravated a right Achilles tendon injury.
Davis left with 2:39 left in the second quarter after bumping his legs with Jokić. He stayed inside to take free throws, but left with tendonosis in the right Achilles. ESPN reported that an MRI will be performed on Monday.
Davis, who finished with 15 points in 14 minutes, missed two games last week with an Achilles tendon injury.
Kyle Kuzma scored 19 and Alex Caruso 11 for the Lakers, who saw their seven-game winning streak interrupted.
Denver played without Gary Harris (adductor), PJ Dozier (hamstring) and Will Barton (staff), then lost to Millsap after Caruso hit him in the thigh on a screen late in the second quarter.
Despite the shortened rotation, the Nuggets led by 12 at halftime and increased it in the third quarter. After Marc Gasol hit a corner 3-pointer, Denver posted a 9-2 run, capped by a five-point trip. Campazzo was fouled on a 3-pointer and scored the free throw and Murray scored a technical free throw to make it 97-79.
Denver led by 21 in the fourth quarter and headed for victory.
The game was tied at 33 after the first quarter and the Lakers took a 49-42 lead on a three-point play by Davis midway through the second, but the Nuggets came back strong in the final 6:19 of the half.
Campazzo and Michael Porter Jr. made triples and Jokić made four free throws in a 15-2 run that put Denver up 60-53. Davis was then fouled by Jokić and, after making two free kicks, cautiously walked to the locker room.
Denver then scored 10 straight points and took a 73-61 lead at the break.
CAVS FALL TO CUTTERS WITHOUT SLEEVES
Lou Williams had a season-high 30 points and 10 assists, and the Los Angeles Clippers defeated the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers (128-111) on Sunday.
Serge Ibaka added 21 points on 9 of 14 shooting with nine rebounds and six assists for the Clippers, who played without Kawhi Leonard (leg bruise) and Paul George (foot). George missed his fifth game in a row.
Marcus Morris, Sr. had 23 points, had four 3s and six rebounds, and Patrick Beverley contributed 16 points, six rebounds and five assists. Beverley made 5 of 8 shots, including 4 of 6 triples. Luke Kennard contributed 12 points. – Reuters
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