LeBron James surpasses 40,000-point milestone but Lakers fall to Nuggets
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) scores as Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr., defends, becoming the first NBA player to reach 40,000 points in a career, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 2, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, right, gestures after scoring to become the first NBA player to reach 40,000 points in a career as Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. runs behind during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 2, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, right, scores as Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr., defends, becoming the first NBA player to reach 40,000 points in a career, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 2, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James acknowledges fans after scoring to become the first NBA player to reach 40,000 points in a career during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 2, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James acknowledges fans after scoring to become the first NBA player to reach 40,000 points in a career during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 2, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) scores as Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. (1), defends, becoming the first NBA player to reach 40,000 points in a career, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 2, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) scores as Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. (1), defends, becoming the first NBA player to reach 40,000 points in a career, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 2, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, left, shoots as Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon, center, and guard Jamal Murray defend during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 2, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James tosses powder in the air prior to an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets Saturday, March 2, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, left, shoots as Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 2, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, left, shoots as Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis, center, and forward Rui Hachimura defend during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 2, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, right, shoots as Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 2, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James flips after scoring during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets Saturday, March 2, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, left, looks to pass as Los Angeles Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell, center, and center Jaxson Hayes defend during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 2, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, center, drives to the basket to scores as Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr., left, and forward Zeke Nnaji defend, becoming the first NBA player to reach 40,000 points in a career, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 2, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, right, shoots as Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 2, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, left, shoots as Denver Nuggets forward Zeke Nnaji defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 2, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James gestures during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets Saturday, March 2, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, right, shoots as Denver Nuggets forward Zeke Nnaji, left, forward Peyton Watson, second from left, and forward Justin Holiday defend during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 2, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, left, shoots as Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 2, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
LOS ANGELES — LeBron James becoming the first player in league history to score at least 40,000 regular-season points came on a bittersweet night, with the Lakers dropping Saturday’s home matchup to the Denver Nuggets, 124-114, at Crypto.com Arena.
It looked like James’ milestone was going to come in a victory, with the Lakers (33-29) leading for most of Saturday.
But the Nuggets (42-19) dominated the late portion of the matchup, closing the fourth on a 16-4 run for their sixth consecutive victory, completing a 3-0 regular-season sweep of the Lakers.
The Lakers have lost their last eight matchups to the Nuggets, including the four-game sweep in last season’s Western Conference finals.
James finished with 26 points on 12-for-20 shooting to go with nine assists and four rebounds. Rui Hachimura added 23 points on 10-for-15 shooting while being the primary defender against Nikola Jokic (35 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists) for significant stretches.
Austin Reaves recorded 19 points to go with a career-high 14 assists. Anthony Davis finished with 17 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks while D’Angelo Russell had 17 points.
James reached the milestone at the 10:39 mark of the second quarter when he made a layup over Michael Porter Jr. to give the Lakers an early 37-32 lead.
The Lakers called a timeout a little over a minute later, with the organization playing a montage of signature moments from James’ career playing in the arena before James acknowledged the crowd.
The Lakers stayed in front for the remainder of the second, leading 66-58 at halftime, and most of the third before Jokic went on a scoring barrage, scoring 13 points in a 2½ minute-stretch to give the Nuggets an 88-85 lead late in the quarter.
Anthony Davis, LeBron James help Lakers hold off struggling Wizards in OT
The Lakers got back in front Lakers 110-108 with 4:11 left after a James layup off a Reaves assist.
But the Nuggets took control from there.
Michael Porter Jr. scored 25 points on a perfect 10-for-10 shooting to go with 10 rebounds and four assists. Jamal Murray had 24 points, 11 assists and six rebounds. Aaron Gordon added 18 points, nine rebounds and five assists.