Denver Nuggets vs Lakers Match Player Stats

The denver nuggets vs lakers match player stats from March 6, 2026, tell a much more detailed story than the final score alone. The Denver Nuggets defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 120-113 at Ball Arena, but the result was shaped by several statistical differences that are easy to miss when looking only at the scoreboard. Nikola Jokic produced a 28-point, 12-rebound, 13-assist triple-double, Jamal Murray also scored 28 points, and Denver converted 28 of 31 free throws. For Los Angeles, Luka Doncic led the team with 27 points and 11 rebounds, while LeBron James finished with 16 points and 8 assists. The Lakers shot 52 percent from the field and forced 18 turnovers, yet Denver’s rebounding advantage and exceptional free-throw shooting helped the Nuggets protect their early lead.

The game was played in front of 19,947 spectators in Denver and featured two teams entering the contest with strong Western Conference records. The Lakers were 37-25 before the game, while the Nuggets entered at 39-24. That made the matchup important beyond a single regular-season result. Both teams were competing for positioning in a crowded Western Conference, and the statistical battle showed why small advantages can decide games between high-level teams.

Table of Contents

Game Overview

The Nuggets won 120-113, improving their position while handing the Lakers another difficult road result.

The scoring progression was particularly revealing:

Quarter	Los Angeles Lakers	Denver Nuggets
First	22	32
Second	32	32
Third	32	29
Fourth	27	27
Final	113	120

Denver’s 10-point advantage in the opening quarter ultimately became extremely important. The Lakers actually outscored Denver by three points in the third quarter, but they could not erase the deficit created during the opening period.

The second quarter was even at 32 points apiece, while both teams scored 27 in the fourth. This means the Nuggets did not need a spectacular late-game scoring burst to win. Their main advantage was the cushion established early and their ability to maintain it.

That is one of the most important lessons from this matchup. A team does not always win because it dominates the final five minutes. Sometimes the decisive work happens much earlier.

denver nuggets vs lakers match player stats: Team Comparison

The overall team statistics provide a useful starting point before examining individual performances.

Category	Lakers	Nuggets
Points	113	120
Field Goals	45-87	39-75
Field Goal Percentage	52%	52%
Three-Pointers	13-31	14-31
Three-Point Percentage	42%	45%
Free Throws	10-15	28-31
Free-Throw Percentage	67%	90%
Rebounds	32	41
Assists	30	27
Turnovers	10	18
Steals	12	3
Blocks	1	1
Offensive Rebounds	6	7
Defensive Rebounds	26	34
Fouls	21	16

At first glance, the numbers may look surprising.

Los Angeles had fewer turnovers, more assists and more steals. The Lakers also made six more field goals than Denver. Yet Denver won by seven points.

The explanation begins with free throws and rebounding.

The Nuggets attempted 31 free throws and made 28. Los Angeles attempted only 15 and converted 10. That created an 18-point difference in made free throws.

Denver also collected 41 rebounds compared with 32 for Los Angeles. The nine-rebound advantage helped the Nuggets create additional possessions and limit second opportunities for the Lakers.

The Nuggets were not more accurate overall from the field. Both teams finished at 52 percent. Instead, Denver gained its statistical advantage through possession-related factors, rebounding and free-throw efficiency.

Nikola Jokic’s Triple-Double Was the Central Performance

Nikola Jokic was one of the defining players of the night.

He finished with:

28 points
12 rebounds
13 assists
9 turnovers
1 steal
1 block
10-of-15 shooting
8-of-8 free throws

The 13 assists were especially significant because Jokic was not simply functioning as Denver’s primary scorer. He was also responsible for creating opportunities for teammates.

His 28 points came on 10-of-15 shooting, which represents an efficient scoring night. He also made all eight of his free throws.

There is an important nuance in his performance, however. Jokic committed nine turnovers.

That number should not be ignored simply because he recorded a triple-double. A complete evaluation has to account for both the positive and negative parts of a player’s game.

Jokic’s nine turnovers were unusually costly on an individual level, but Denver still won because the Nuggets generated enough value from his scoring, rebounding, passing and interior presence to offset those mistakes.

His 12 rebounds also contributed directly to Denver’s team rebounding advantage.

Most importantly, Jokic’s passing forced the Lakers to account for multiple offensive possibilities. When a center can score efficiently, rebound at a high level and create shots for teammates, defending him becomes a team-wide problem rather than a one-on-one assignment.

Jamal Murray Provides the Second Major Scoring Threat

Jamal Murray matched Jokic with 28 points.

His shooting line was:

28 points
4 rebounds
7 assists
8-of-17 field goals
5-of-9 three-pointers
7-of-7 free throws

Murray’s five made three-pointers were important because they prevented the Lakers from concentrating too heavily on Jokic.

His 5-of-9 shooting from three-point range gave Denver an efficient perimeter scoring source. When combined with Jokic’s interior scoring and playmaking, it created a difficult defensive balance for Los Angeles.

Murray also contributed seven assists, meaning the Nuggets received significant creation from both of their primary offensive engines.

The combination of Jokic and Murray produced 56 points.

That accounted for nearly half of Denver’s 120 points.

Luka Doncic Leads the Lakers

Luka Doncic was the Lakers’ leading scorer and leading rebounder.

He recorded:

27 points
11 rebounds
7 assists
4 steals
11-of-24 field goals
3-of-10 three-pointers
2-of-4 free throws

Doncic’s 27 points were the highest total for either team other than the two Denver co-leaders at 28.

His 11 rebounds also demonstrated his ability to influence the game beyond scoring. Four steals added another defensive contribution.

However, his shooting efficiency was not as strong as Jokic’s. Doncic made 11 of 24 field-goal attempts, while Jokic made 10 of 15.

The difference becomes even clearer from three-point range. Doncic went 3-of-10 from outside, while Murray made 5-of-9.

That does not make Doncic’s performance poor. He still produced 27 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists and 4 steals. It simply shows that the Lakers needed more efficiency from their primary offensive creator against Denver.

LeBron James Adds Playmaking and Defensive Production

LeBron James finished with 16 points, 5 rebounds and 8 assists.

His shooting line was highly efficient:

7-of-11 field goals
0-of-2 three-pointers
2-of-2 free throws

He also recorded three steals and one block.

LeBron’s eight assists were the highest total on the Lakers, showing that his contribution was not limited to scoring.

His 16 points may appear modest compared with his usual scoring reputation, but the box score shows that he contributed in several categories.

The Lakers received 16 points from both LeBron and Austin Reaves, while Doncic led the team with 27.

The broader question is whether Los Angeles had enough scoring efficiency around its primary creators to overcome Denver’s free-throw and rebounding advantages.

On this night, the answer was no.

Austin Reaves Has an All-Around Statistical Game

Austin Reaves recorded 16 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists.

He shot:

6-of-11 from the field
1-of-2 from three-point range
3-of-4 from the free-throw line

He also recorded three steals.

Reaves’ seven assists were tied with Doncic for the second-highest total on the Lakers, behind LeBron’s eight.

His contribution illustrates why a basic points-only comparison can be misleading. Reaves was involved in scoring, playmaking, rebounding and defense.

The Lakers had several players capable of creating offense, which helped explain their 30 team assists.

However, Denver’s defensive and rebounding profile still allowed the Nuggets to control enough possessions to preserve their lead.

Rui Hachimura Provides Valuable Bench Scoring

Rui Hachimura was one of Los Angeles’ most productive bench players.

He finished with 19 points and 5 rebounds, shooting 8-of-10 from the field.

That was an excellent shooting night.

Hachimura’s scoring efficiency was one of the bright spots for Los Angeles. His 19 points were also higher than LeBron James’ 16 and Austin Reaves’ 16.

His performance demonstrates why bench production matters in games between talented teams. When a reserve player can provide efficient scoring without requiring a large number of attempts, that can change the shape of an offense.

The Lakers received additional bench production from Jaxson Hayes and Luke Kennard.

Jaxson Hayes and the Lakers’ Supporting Cast

Jaxson Hayes finished with 8 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists, shooting 3-of-6 from the field.

Luke Kennard also scored 8 points while making 3-of-6 field goals and 2-of-3 three-pointers.

Marcus Smart added 9 points and made three three-pointers.

The Lakers’ bench and supporting players therefore provided several useful contributions, but the team could not turn those individual performances into enough total scoring to beat Denver.

One reason was the Nuggets’ ability to combine star production with contributions throughout their rotation.

Christian Braun’s Two-Way Contribution

Christian Braun scored 15 points, grabbed 5 rebounds and delivered 4 assists.

He shot 6-of-12 from the field and 2-of-6 from three-point range.

Braun’s numbers were not as eye-catching as those of Jokic or Murray, but his contribution helped Denver avoid becoming overly dependent on its two leading scorers.

His five rebounds and four assists added value outside scoring.

This type of contribution is particularly important in playoff-style games, where opponents often attempt to force the primary stars into difficult possessions.

Julian Strawther Adds Efficient Scoring

Julian Strawther produced 18 points for Denver.

He shot 6-of-10 from the field, 2-of-5 from three-point range and 4-of-5 from the free-throw line.

His 18 points were the third-highest total on Denver.

Strawther’s scoring gave Denver another offensive option and helped maintain pressure on the Lakers’ defense.

A team becomes much harder to defend when secondary scorers can convert efficiently without needing excessive possessions.

Tim Hardaway Jr. and Bruce Brown Contribute Off the Bench

Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 14 points on 4-of-7 shooting and made two three-pointers.

Bruce Brown added 8 points, 6 rebounds and 1 assist.

Hardaway’s perimeter scoring complemented Murray’s outside shooting, while Brown provided additional rebounding and physical play.

Denver therefore received meaningful production from several players beyond Jokic and Murray.

That balance mattered because the Lakers were able to force Denver into 18 turnovers.

Despite that, the Nuggets had enough scoring efficiency and possession advantages to win.

The Rebounding Battle Was a Major Difference

One of the clearest statistical differences in the game was rebounding.

Denver finished with 41 rebounds.

Los Angeles finished with 32.

That nine-rebound advantage is important because rebounds often determine who receives additional possessions and who can finish defensive possessions.

Denver collected 34 defensive rebounds compared with 26 for the Lakers.

Offensively, the Nuggets also had a small advantage, collecting seven offensive rebounds compared with six for Los Angeles.

The difference was therefore not simply about offensive rebounding. Denver was also more effective at ending Lakers possessions by securing defensive rebounds.

Jokic led Denver with 12 rebounds.

Doncic led Los Angeles with 11.

Both stars were heavily involved in the rebounding battle, but Denver’s overall team advantage remained significant.

Free-Throw Shooting Changed the Game

The free-throw statistics may be the most important numbers in the entire box score.

Denver:

28-of-31
90 percent

Los Angeles:

10-of-15
67 percent

That represents an 18-made-free-throw advantage for Denver.

The Nuggets therefore scored 18 more points at the free-throw line.

This is a major reason why identical 52 percent field-goal percentages did not produce a close statistical result.

Free throws also tend to become especially important when teams shoot similarly from the field. If two teams make roughly the same percentage of their field-goal attempts, the team that generates more efficient scoring from the foul line can create a meaningful separation.

Denver did exactly that.

Three-Point Shooting Was Close

The Lakers made 13 of 31 three-point attempts.

The Nuggets made 14 of 31.

That is only one additional made three-pointer for Denver.

The difference in percentage was also relatively modest:

Lakers: 42 percent
Nuggets: 45 percent

Therefore, three-point shooting was not the primary reason Denver won.

Murray’s 5-of-9 shooting was a major individual contribution, while Doncic’s 3-of-10 performance was less efficient.

Still, as a team, the Lakers were not badly outperformed from long range.

This is another reason the free-throw and rebounding statistics deserve greater attention.

The Lakers Won the Turnover Battle

The Lakers committed only 10 turnovers.

Denver committed 18.

That gave Los Angeles an eight-turnover advantage.

Normally, such a difference can be highly valuable.

The Lakers also recorded 12 steals compared with three for Denver.

Los Angeles therefore created defensive pressure and converted Denver mistakes into additional opportunities.

However, the Nuggets compensated in other areas.

Denver’s 41 rebounds, 28 made free throws and strong shooting efficiency helped overcome the turnover disadvantage.

This is a useful example of why one statistical category should not be treated as a complete explanation for a basketball game.

The Assist Battle Favored Los Angeles

The Lakers recorded 30 assists.

Denver recorded 27.

Los Angeles therefore had a three-assist advantage.

LeBron James led the Lakers with eight assists, while Doncic and Reaves each recorded seven.

For Denver, Jokic led the team with 13 assists, followed by Murray with seven.

Jokic’s 13 assists were particularly notable because he also scored 28 points and grabbed 12 rebounds.

His performance demonstrated the unusual offensive responsibilities he carries as Denver’s primary center and playmaker.

Why Denver Won Despite More Turnovers

This is perhaps the most interesting statistical question from the game.

Denver committed 18 turnovers compared with 10 for Los Angeles.

The Nuggets also had fewer assists and fewer steals.

Yet Denver won.

The answer is that basketball games are decided by the total combination of possessions and scoring efficiency rather than any single box-score category.

Denver’s advantages included:

Nine more total rebounds.
Eighteen more made free throws.
One more made three-pointer.
A 90 percent free-throw rate.
Efficient shooting from Jokic.
56 combined points from Jokic and Murray.
A 10-point first-quarter advantage.

The Lakers’ advantages included:

Eight fewer turnovers.
Three more assists.
Nine more steals.
Six more made field goals.
A strong 52 percent field-goal percentage.

The Nuggets’ strengths simply produced more points than the Lakers’ advantages did.

The Importance of the First Quarter

Denver scored 32 points in the first quarter.

Los Angeles scored 22.

That 10-point gap remained relevant throughout the entire game.

The Lakers improved significantly after the opening period. They scored 32 points in both the second and third quarters, but Denver continued to find enough offense to avoid surrendering the lead.

This is an important lesson when analyzing game results.

A team can play better over the final three quarters and still lose because the initial deficit was too large.

In this matchup, Denver did not need to win every quarter. The Nuggets needed to avoid allowing the Lakers to completely erase the first-quarter advantage.

They accomplished that.

Comparing the Two Superstar Performances

The most natural individual comparison is between Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic.

Statistic	Nikola Jokic	Luka Doncic
Points	28	27
Rebounds	12	11
Assists	13	7
Steals	1	4
Blocks	1	0
Field Goals	10-15	11-24
Three-Pointers	0-1	3-10
Free Throws	8-8	2-4
Turnovers	9	3

The comparison is fascinating because both players filled the box score.

Doncic scored 27 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and recorded seven assists.

Jokic scored 28 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and recorded 13 assists.

Doncic had the advantage in steals and turnovers, while Jokic had the advantage in scoring efficiency, assists, rebounds, blocks and free-throw shooting.

Neither performance should be reduced to a simple statement that one player was good and the other was bad.

Both stars were heavily involved.

The difference was that Jokic’s statistical profile aligned more closely with Denver’s winning formula.

LeBron James vs Jamal Murray

Another useful comparison is between LeBron James and Jamal Murray.

Murray scored 28 points compared with LeBron’s 16.

However, LeBron recorded eight assists, five rebounds and three steals.

Murray added seven assists and four rebounds.

Murray’s shooting was the more efficient scoring performance. He made five three-pointers and all seven free throws.

LeBron was more involved defensively, recording three steals and one block.

This illustrates why individual comparisons should include more than points.

Murray was Denver’s major perimeter scoring weapon, while LeBron provided playmaking and defensive activity alongside his scoring.

What the Bench Numbers Tell Us

Bench production was another important part of the game.

For Los Angeles, Rui Hachimura scored 19 points, while Jaxson Hayes and Luke Kennard each added 8.

Denver received 18 points from Julian Strawther, 14 from Tim Hardaway Jr., 8 from Bruce Brown and 4 from Jonas Valanciunas.

The scoring was distributed differently.

Los Angeles received a strong individual scoring performance from Hachimura.

Denver received several useful contributions from its second unit.

That distribution can be valuable because it makes an offense less dependent on one reserve player.

What the Game Says About Offensive Efficiency

Both teams shot 52 percent from the field.

That is a striking statistic considering Denver won by seven.

It means field-goal percentage alone cannot explain the result.

Denver’s offense was more efficient in other areas.

The Nuggets made 28 of 31 free throws and 14 of 31 three-pointers.

The Lakers made 10 of 15 free throws and 13 of 31 three-pointers.

The difference in free throws was enormous.

This is a good reminder for anyone analyzing basketball statistics that effective scoring involves more than raw field-goal percentage.

A team can shoot the same percentage as its opponent and still score significantly more points because of free throws, three-point volume and possession differences.

A Closer Look at the Lakers’ Offensive Profile

The Lakers scored 113 points and recorded 30 assists.

Their 45 made field goals were six more than Denver’s 39.

That indicates the Lakers were capable of generating quality field-goal production.

However, they did not receive enough points from the free-throw line.

They also lost the rebounding battle.

The Lakers’ 10 turnovers were excellent compared with Denver’s 18, but that advantage did not fully compensate for the other statistical differences.

Doncic’s 27 points led the team, while Hachimura’s 19 points were an important contribution from the bench.

LeBron and Reaves each scored 16.

The scoring was therefore reasonably balanced, but the team needed more conversion at the line and stronger control of the glass.

A Closer Look at Denver’s Offensive Profile

Denver scored 120 points despite making fewer field goals.

That is the clearest sign of how effectively the Nuggets maximized their scoring opportunities.

The Nuggets made 28 free throws.

Jokic and Murray each scored 28 points.

Strawther added 18, Braun had 15 and Hardaway Jr. scored 14.

Five Denver players reached double figures.

That kind of distribution reduced the pressure on any single scorer.

Jokic was the offensive hub, but Denver’s scoring did not stop with him.

What the Matchup Reveals About Winning Basketball

The game provides several useful lessons for understanding NBA team performance.

1. Shooting percentage is only part of the story

Both teams shot 52 percent from the field.

Denver still won.

That means other categories had a major effect.

2. Free throws can create a huge scoring gap

Denver made 18 more free throws.

That difference was larger than the final seven-point margin.

3. Rebounding creates possession value

Denver’s nine-rebound advantage helped the Nuggets control the glass.

4. Turnovers can be overcome

Los Angeles forced Denver into 18 turnovers but still lost.

A turnover advantage is valuable, but it does not guarantee victory.

5. Star production must connect with team efficiency

Jokic and Murray combined for 56 points.

Doncic and LeBron combined for 43.

The Lakers had additional contributors, but Denver’s two leading scorers created a particularly strong foundation.

Season Series Context

The March 6 meeting was part of a competitive season series.

According to the supplied game data, the previous matchup was played on January 21, 2026, when Denver defeated Los Angeles 115-107.

The March 6 meeting therefore gave Denver another victory over the Lakers before the later March 15 matchup.

The sequence shows how quickly the balance of an NBA rivalry can change from one game to another.

Individual statistics are useful because they provide context for those results. A final score tells you who won. Player and team statistics help explain why.

How to Read Player Stats More Effectively

When examining a box score from a major NBA matchup, it is tempting to begin with points.

Points are important, but they should not be the only starting point.

A more useful approach is to examine the following sequence:

Check the final score and quarter breakdown.
Compare field-goal efficiency.
Examine three-point shooting.
Check free-throw attempts and percentage.
Compare total and offensive rebounds.
Review turnovers.
Examine assists.
Look at individual scoring efficiency.
Compare the leading players across several categories.
Consider whether the statistics explain the final result.

Using this process makes it easier to distinguish a truly influential performance from a high-scoring performance that did not necessarily affect the outcome as much.

The Most Important Numbers From the Game

Several figures summarize the matchup particularly well.

120: Denver’s final score.

113: Los Angeles’ final score.

28: Jokic’s points.

28: Murray’s points.

27: Doncic’s points.

13: Jokic’s assists.

12: Jokic’s rebounds.

11: Doncic’s rebounds.

41: Denver’s total rebounds.

32: Los Angeles’ total rebounds.

28: Denver’s made free throws.

10: Los Angeles’ turnovers.

18: Denver’s turnovers.

52 percent: Both teams’ field-goal percentage.

These numbers show why the game cannot be explained simply by saying that Denver shot better.

The two teams had identical field-goal percentages, yet Denver found additional scoring opportunities at the line and controlled the glass.

Final Statistical Assessment

The denver nuggets vs lakers match player stats show a game in which both teams had strong individual performances but achieved success through different statistical routes.

Los Angeles had the better turnover profile, more assists and more steals. The Lakers also made more field goals and shot 52 percent from the field.

Denver, however, dominated the free-throw comparison and won the rebounding battle. Jokic delivered a triple-double, Murray scored 28 points with five three-pointers, and several supporting players reached double figures.

The result was a seven-point Denver victory.

From the Lakers’ perspective, the performance showed that their offense could generate points efficiently, but they needed to reduce the impact of Denver’s rebounding and free-throw advantages.

From Denver’s perspective, the game demonstrated the value of having multiple ways to score. The Nuggets could rely on Jokic’s playmaking, Murray’s perimeter shooting, efficient free throws and contributions from their supporting rotation.

The most important takeaway is that the box score does not point to one overwhelming statistical category. Instead, several smaller advantages combined to produce the final result.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was the leading scorer in the Nuggets vs Lakers game?

Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray were Denver’s leading scorers with 28 points each. Luka Doncic led Los Angeles with 27 points.

What were Nikola Jokic’s stats against the Lakers?

Nikola Jokic finished with 28 points, 12 rebounds, 13 assists, 9 turnovers, 1 steal and 1 block. He shot 10-of-15 from the field and 8-of-8 from the free-throw line.

What were Luka Doncic’s stats against Denver?

Luka Doncic recorded 27 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists and 4 steals. He shot 11-of-24 from the field, 3-of-10 from three-point range and 2-of-4 from the free-throw line.

Why did the Nuggets beat the Lakers?

Denver won because it combined strong scoring from Jokic and Murray with a nine-rebound advantage and a major free-throw advantage. The Nuggets made 28 free throws compared with 10 for Los Angeles.

Did the Lakers shoot better than the Nuggets?

The teams both shot 52 percent from the field. Los Angeles made 45 of 87 field-goal attempts, while Denver made 39 of 75.

Who had more rebounds, the Lakers or Nuggets?

The Nuggets had more rebounds. Denver finished with 41 total rebounds, while Los Angeles recorded 32.

Conclusion

The denver nuggets vs lakers match player stats from March 6, 2026, provide a strong example of why basketball analysis needs to go beyond the final score.

Denver won 120-113 at Ball Arena after taking a 10-point advantage in the first quarter. Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray each scored 28 points, while Jokic added 12 rebounds and 13 assists. Luka Doncic led the Lakers with 27 points and 11 rebounds, while LeBron James contributed 16 points and 8 assists.

The Lakers had several statistical advantages. They committed only 10 turnovers compared with Denver’s 18, recorded 12 steals, produced 30 assists and made six more field goals. Those numbers show that Los Angeles was competitive and created plenty of opportunities.

Denver’s winning formula was different. The Nuggets controlled the glass with a 41-32 rebounding advantage, shot 45 percent from three-point range and, most importantly, made 28 of 31 free throws. That free-throw difference alone created 18 additional points for Denver.

The individual matchup between Jokic and Doncic was also one of the most interesting elements of the game. Both players filled multiple statistical categories, but Jokic’s combination of scoring, rebounding and elite playmaking gave Denver a particularly strong offensive foundation.

Ultimately, this was not a game decided by one statistic or one player. It was decided by the interaction of efficient scoring, rebounding, free throws, early-game momentum and star-level production.

For anyone studying the denver nuggets vs lakers match player stats, the biggest lesson is simple: the most meaningful box-score analysis comes from connecting individual numbers with team-level advantages. Points explain part of the story, but rebounds, free throws, turnovers, assists and shooting efficiency explain much more about how the game was actually won.