LOS ANGELES — Maybe it was the four-day break that followed the most dismal stretch of the season for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Maybe it was the absence of Nuggets star forward Nikola Jokic, who was averaging 23.9 points and 11.1 rebounds before going down with an injury.
Whatever the reason, the Nuggets experienced a hiccup at Staples Center on Tuesday night, falling 120-116.
The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for the Nuggets (21-26), who had been playing their best basketball of the season going into the contest.
Danilo Gallinari and Gary Harris scored 17 each to lead the Nuggets.
Nick Young led Los Angeles with 23 and D’Angelo Russell added 22.
Denver built up a seven-point lead with nine minutes remaining and appeared to on its way to yet another victory against the Lakers.
But the Lakers refused to go away.
A 3-pointer by Young gave the Lakers a 106-103 lead with 4:05 remaining.
About a minute later, Harris’ hit a 3-pointer and then a two-point shot to put the Nuggets ahead 111-108 with just under three minutes remaining.
The Lakers then went on an 8-3 run to take a 116-114 lead with :35 left.
In contrast to the 40-point firsts tallied against the Lakers in their Jan. 18 meeting in Los Angeles, the Nuggets started slow Tuesday missing their first five shots, enabling the Lakers to take an early 8-0 lead three minutes Aresbet in.
A 20-foot jump shot by Harris about three minutes in got the Nuggets on the board.
Denver then outscored the Lakers 21-16 over the next six minutes.
A layup from Jameer Nelson, off a Lakers turnover, gave the Nuggets their first lead at 23-22.
The game was tied at 30 after the first quarter and the teams traded baskets for most of the second.
Wilson Chandler then took over, nailing a 3-pointer and two jumpers, keying an 11-7 run over the final 4:30 and giving Denver a 59-54 halftime lead.
The Lakers scored well above their 103.6 points per-game average and their most points in game since putting up 121 against Denver on Jan. 18.
The Lakers victory also snapped Denver’s seven-game winning streak at Los Angeles.
Nuggets 116, L.A. Lakers 120
DENVER
Gallinari 5-12 7-7 17, Faried 5-12 4-6 14, Nurkic 0-7 1-2 1, Nelson 4-15 0-0 9, Harris 6-11 2-2 17, Hernangomez 2-2 2-2 8, Chandler 10-20 2-2 26, Arthur 4-8 1-2 10, Murray 5-12 0-0 14. Totals 41-99 19-23 116.
L.A. LAKERS
Deng 3-9 0-0 7, Young 9-15 0-1 23, Mozgov 4-5 4-4 12, Black 3-5 0-1 6, Russell 7-17 6-8 22, Nance 1-3 0-0 2, Ingram 2-8 0-0 4, Zubac 8-9 1-1 17, Clarkson 3-7 0-0 6, Williams 7-11 3-3 21. Totals 47-89 14-18 120.
3-Point goals — Denver 15-27 (Chandler 4-6, Murray 4-8, Harris 3-4, Hernangomez 2-2, Nelson 1-2, Arthur 1-2, Gallinari 0-3), L.A. Lakers 12-26 (Young 5-8, Williams 4-5, Russell 2-7, Deng 1-3, Clarkson 0-1, Ingram 0-2). Fouled out — None. Rebounds — Denver 51 (Faried 17), L.A. Lakers 44 (Black 8). Assists — Denver 26 (Nelson 7), L.A. Lakers 25 (Russell 10). Total fouls — Denver 18, L.A. Lakers 16. A — 18,997 (19,060).
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