Nuggets' Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray sit out against the Lakers, who are missing LeBron James

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Nuggets stars Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray sat out due to injuries on Wednesday night when Denver faced the Los Angeles Lakers, who are still without LeBron James.

Jokic is missing his second straight game with a bruised right elbow, while Murray is also missing his second straight game with a sprained right ankle. The Nuggets' pillars are accounting for a combined 50.6 points, 16.6 rebounds, 16.4 assists and 3.2 steals per game this season.

Jokic and Murray both traveled to Los Angeles and did pregame work in an attempt to play, but ultimately were ruled out. Both stars also sat out the Nuggets' surprising win over Golden State on Monday.

Denver coach Michael Malone on Wednesday profanely defended his team's decision to protect Jokic and Murray against the Warriors before the Nuggets had made the same decision for their game against the Lakers. Malone said Jokic has played the second-most games in the NBA over the past decade.

“If Nikola is not playing, it's not because he needs rest," Malone said. “It's because he's hurt, and he's trying to play through things that most wouldn't, and we're at a point now where we have to do what's best for not only Nikola, but all of our guys as we move forward and try to close out this season. We don't rest guys. If guys miss games, it's because they're unable to go out there and perform at the level that we need them to perform at, and I think it's really important that everybody knows that.”

The 40-year-old James missed his sixth straight game with a hamstring injury. Coach JJ Redick had no update on James' recovery, saying James and fellow injured starter Rui Hachimura (knee), who missed his 11th straight game, are considered day-to-day.

Luka Doncic was active for the Lakers despite his nagging right ankle sprain. He sat out last week when Los Angeles traveled to Denver and nearly beat Jokic, Murray and the Nuggets despite the absence of the Lakers' top two players.

Nuggets guard Christian Braun returned against the Lakers after sitting out Monday with left foot inflammation.

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

Topics

Nuggets rule out both Jokic, Murray vs. Lakers

Denver Nuggets stars Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray will sit out for a second consecutive game Wednesday against the Los Angeles Lakers as they continue to nurse nagging injuries, the team announced.
ESPN - 8h
LeBron James update: Lakers star misses another game with groin injury

LeBron James did not play for the Los Angeles Lakers against the Denver Nuggets at Crypto.com Arena on Wednesday.
Yahoo Sports - 8h
Watch Jamal Murray sink dagger into Lakers; Nuggets hold on for win at home

No LeBron or Luka for Los Angeles, but Austin Reaves had 37 and the Lakers were feisty.
Yahoo Sports - 4d
How will Lakers survive without LeBron James?

LeBron’s groin injury, sidelining him for a week or two, disrupts the Lakers' rhythm just as they gear up against tough competition like the Bucks and Nuggets.
Yahoo Sports - Mar. 11
Luka Doncic won't play Friday in Denver, joining LeBron James on Lakers' injury list

Luka Doncic won’t play against the Denver Nuggets, joining LeBron James on the Lakers’ lengthy list of unavailable players
ABC News - 5d
WATCH: Nuggets' Jamal Murray continues to haunt Lakers with yet another game-winning jumper

That makes three game-winners for Murray against L.A. in the last year
CBS Sports - 4d
Lakers injury updates on LeBron James and Rui Hachimura

How much longer will LeBron James and Rui Hachimura be out for the Lakers?
Yahoo Sports - 3d
Jamal Murray's clutch 3-pointer helps Nuggets hold off short-handed Lakers 131-126

Jamal Murray sank a 3-pointer with 5.6 seconds left and Russell Westbrook stole the inbounds pass for a exclamation-point dunk as the Denver Nuggets rebuffed the scrappy, short-handed Los Angeles ...
Yahoo Sports - 5d
Jamal Murray's clutch 3-pointer helps Nuggets hold off short-handed Lakers 131-126

Jamal Murray sank a 3-pointer with 5.6 seconds left and Russell Westbrook stole the inbounds pass for a exclamation-point dunk as the Denver Nuggets rebuffed the scrappy, short-handed Los Angeles ...
ABC News - 5d
Lakers rule Doncic out for game against Nuggets

Luka Doncic will not play in the conclusion of the Los Angeles Lakers' four-game road trip Friday against the Denver Nuggets.
ESPN - 5d
Lakers' LeBron James has first on-court workout, expected to miss at least one more week with groin strain: Report

LeBron James had his first on-court workout on Sunday since straining his groin in the Lakers' March 8 matchup with the Boston Celtics, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. James has missed Los ...
Yahoo Sports - 3d
LeBron James injury update: Lakers star expected to miss at least one more week with groin strain, per report

The Lakers have not won since James got hurt
CBS Sports - 3d
Sources: LeBron expected out at least 1-2 weeks

Lakers star LeBron James, after leaving Saturday's game in the fourth quarter, is expected to miss at least one to two weeks with a groin strain, sources told ESPN.
ESPN - Mar. 9
LeBron reportedly to miss 1-to-2 weeks, will be reevaluated

James suffered a groin strain in Saturday's loss to the Celtics, delivering a blow to the Lakers, who have been one of the hottest teams in the NBA as of late.
Yahoo Sports - Mar. 9
Nuggets' Nikola Jokic makes NBA history with league's first 30-20-20 triple-double

Nikola Jokic sat in front of his locker, calmly scrolling through his phone, seemingly unimpressed that 30 minutes earlier he made NBA history.
NBC News - Mar. 8
Lakers' James, Hachimura, Hayes fly back to California for treatment and will miss rest of road trip

LeBron James flew back to California for treatment on his left groin strain and will miss the rest of the Los Angeles Lakers’ four-game trip, which concludes Friday at Denver. James missed his ...
Yahoo Sports - 6d
LeBron James injury update: Lakers star expected to miss at least 1-2 weeks with groin strain, per report

James left Saturday's loss in the fourth quarter and did not return
CBS Sports - Mar. 9
Luka Dončić scores 45 points but Lakers lose third straight with LeBron James still out

Milwaukee got the easy 20-point win over the shorthanded Lakers, even with Dončić dropping his highest single-game total in his Lakers era.
Yahoo Sports - 6d
LeBron James injury: How the Lakers can survive the next few weeks without the face of the league

James is expected to miss at least 1-2 weeks due to a groin strain suffered during Saturday's game
CBS Sports - Mar. 9
LeBron James injury update: Lakers star returns to Los Angeles during road trip

LeBron James will not remain with the Los Angeles Lakers for the remainder of the team’s current road trip while he deals with a groin injury.
Yahoo Sports - 6d
Sources: LeBron returns to L.A. for treatment

Lakers star LeBron James has returned to Los Angeles, per medical recommendation, as he continues to progress well from a groin strain he suffered against the Boston Celtics on Saturday, league ...
ESPN - Mar. 12
Insider gives possible timetable for return of LeBron James and Rui Hachimura

LeBron James and Rui Hachimura could be very close to return to game action for the Lakers, according to one insider.
Yahoo Sports - 13h
LeBron James leaves late with groin injury as Lakers lose 111-101 to Celtics

LeBron James exited early with an injury as Jayson Tatum scored 40 points to lead the Celtics to a 111-101 win over the Lakers.
NBC News - Mar. 9
Jokic brilliant in NBA's 1st 30-20-20 triple-double

In a historic performance, Nuggets star Nikola Jokic had 31 points, 21 rebounds and a career-high 22 assists in a 149-141 overtime win over the Suns.
ESPN - Mar. 8
Lakers' post-Luka surge comes to screeching halt with LeBron injury

The Lakers had the look of a contender after trading for Luka Dončić. Then they ran into the defending champs and LeBron James suffered a groin injury.
Yahoo Sports - Mar. 9
LeBron exits with left groin injury; Lakers lose

LeBron James exited with 6:44 remaining in the fourth quarter with what the Lakers are calling a left groin strain suffered in his team's 111-101 loss to the Celtics, a result that ended an ...
ESPN - Mar. 9
Luka Dončić set to miss Lakers-Nuggets game with calf, ankle injuries

Dončić put up 45 points in a loss Thursday night against the Bucks
Yahoo Sports - 5d
Doncic reaches milestone as Lakers defeat Nuggets

Luka Doncic scores 31 points as the Los Angeles Lakers ease to a 120-108 home win against the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference.
Yahoo Sports - 4h
Stephen A. Smith Comments on Postgame Confrontation With Lebron James

The ESPN commentator says the Lakers star started a tense discussion about his son, Bronny James.
The New York Times - Mar. 8
Stephen A. Smith says LeBron James confronting him at Lakers-Knicks game was 'bulls***' and 'weak'

Smith struck a different tone about his interaction with LeBron after seeing how the Lakers star interpreted the conversation with ESPN colleague Richard Jefferson.
Yahoo Sports - Mar. 12
Lakers' Bronny James can see on-court improvement during rookie year

Lakers guard Bronny James said he can see improvement within his game after logging a season-high 15 minutes in a loss to the Nuggets.
Yahoo Sports - 4d
LeBron-less Lakers fall to lowly Nets despite Luka triple-double

LA's scorching start post-Luka Dončić trade has hit a wall, especially with LeBron James sidelined.
Yahoo Sports - Mar. 11
Celtics vs. Lakers: Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown show NBA's hottest new duo that title still runs through Boston

Boston's duo outplayed LeBron James and Luka Dončić to end the Lakers' streak
CBS Sports - Mar. 9
Lakers vs. Nets odds, line, prediction, start time: 2025 NBA picks, March 10 best bets from proven model

SportsLine's model simulated Brooklyn Nets vs. Los Angeles Lakers 10,000 times and revealed its NBA picks for Monday as LeBron James is out and Luka Doncic is probable
CBS Sports - Mar. 10
LeBron James exits with left groin injury as Tatum powers Celtics past Lakers

Tatum scores 40 as Celtics beat Lakers 111-101 James goes to locker room with strained groin Jayson Tatum had 40 points, 12 rebounds, and eight assists, and the Boston Celtics held off a late ...
The Guardian - Mar. 9
Stephen A. Smith says LeBron James confronted him as 'a daddy' — not star player — over Bronny comments

ESPN's Stephen A. Smith says LeBron James confronted him at Thursday's Lakers game over slighting Bronny, with the NBA star 'making sure I mind what I say about his son.'
Los Angeles Times - Mar. 7
LeBron James appears to reveal what Stephen A. Smith said regarding Bronny that ticked him off

Video seems to show Lakers star LeBron James telling ex-Cavaliers teammate Richard Jefferson why he was upset with ESPN's Stephen A. Smith over his Bronny comments.
Yahoo Sports - Mar. 10
NBA MVP Rankings: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's time has come and why LeBron James deserves top-five billing

It feels wrong not to vote for Nikola Jokić, but SGA's case is just unrelenting
CBS Sports - 17h
LeBron leaves with injury as Tatum, Celtics cool off Lakers

Jayson Tatum powered Boston's win with 40 points, 12 rebounds and 8 assists, while LeBron James also flirted with a triple-double before leaving with a groin strain.
Yahoo Sports - Mar. 8

More from Yahoo Sports

How William & Mary's unlikely women's NCAA Tournament bid started with one senior's speech

William & Mary was losing, a lot. Then, senior Bella Nascimento made a speech. Now, The Tribe begins NCAA tournament play. Here's the improbable story
Yahoo Sports - 14m
Former Bucs offensive coordinator and NFL QB Byron Leftwich joining Colorado's staff as an assistant

Colorado recently added Marshall Faulk as its running backs coach.
Yahoo Sports - 15m
March Madness in Cleveland | Today's live updates ahead of Friday's NCAA Tournament games

Eight men's college basketball teams practice today at Rocket Arena ahead of their March Madness games in Cleveland. Get live updates here.
Yahoo Sports - 15m
Kansas City Chiefs re-sign DL Marlon Tuipulotu to a new deal

According to multiple reports, defensive lineman Marlon Tuipulotu is returning to the Kansas City #Chiefs | @EdEastonJr
Yahoo Sports - 16m
Hamilton dismisses talk of frustration with Ferrari after excessive radio chatter

Lewis Hamilton denied there's frustration with Ferrari race engineer Ricciardo Adami despite frequently shutting down unnecessary radio chatter between them at the Australian Grand Prix. “Everyone ...
Yahoo Sports - 18m