LeBron James passed Michael Jordan to move into fourth place on the NBA career scoring list, but the host Los Angeles Lakers couldnt save
James, who finished with 31 points, came into the night 12 behind Jordan’s career total of 32,292 points. Next on the list is Kobe Bryant, who finished his career with 33,643 points.
The @Lakers congratulate @KingJames on becoming 4th all-time in career points! #LakeShow pic.twitter.com/Zgky3FO17e— NBA (@NBA) March 7, 2019
Will Barton had 23 points and Nikola Jokic finished with 12 points, 17 rebounds and eight assists for Denver. Jamal Murray and Gary Harris scored 19 points each to help the Nuggets avoid blowing a 23-point lead.
Denver ended a three-game skid and moved within a game of Golden State for the top seed in the Western Conference.
James tied Jordan when he drained a 19-foot jumper midway through the second quarter. A minute later he passed the Hall of Famer when he drove to the basket for a left-handed lay-up.
His team-mates congratulated him, and at the next timeout James sat alone on the bench with his face buried in a towel.
The Nuggets scored 43 points in the first period, a season high for a quarter for
The Lakers kept chipping away and got within 89-87 on two free throws by James with 8:30 left. James missed a three-pointer that would have given the Lakers their lead of the game and Harris hit two three-pointers and converted a three-point play during a 19-4 run that put Denver comfortably ahead late in the game.
We’ll take that W on our way out.#MileHighBasketball pic.twitter.com/ijoj9OKDz6— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) March 7, 2019
The Lakers have lost four straight and six of their last seven.
Denver Nuggets..I’ll take the push pic.twitter.com/8YHBx1wFzw— RideTheHeater (@RideTheHeater) March 5, 2019