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LOS ANGELES (AP) – When Kobe Bryant took over, Staples Center was excited to be one of the most popular athletes in this building's history.
The crowd even started a "Kobe! Kobe! "Singing in the fourth quarter – and it was immediately drowned out by cheers when LeBron James hit a 3-pointer.
With the symbol of the Los Angeles Lakers, James and the Lakers
James had 28 points, 11 assists and 11 rebounds while leading the late Lakers, 128-111 over the previously unbeaten Denver Nuggets on Thursday night.
LeBron and Kobe did not get a chance to talk, but the longtime friendly rivaled the Lakers 'new direction after James' first triple-double for LA.
"Of course I'm sitting there bashing over there," James said. "One of the all-time Laker greats. What he's doing for this franchise in his 20-plus years here wonders for me. To be able to compete against him all, and the same jersey, this is pretty special. "
With Bryant in attendance for LeBron's arrival in LA, Kyle Kuzma scored 22 points and JaVale McGee added 21 to complement James' 74th triple-double career.
The Lance Stephenson, who finished with 12 points, started a 15-2 rally with back-to-back 3-pointers.
"The first couple of games, when we fell behind, we stayed behind," James said. "Tonight when we fell behind, we learned from our mistakes, and that's one of the most important things in life."
James got Staples Center rocking on a go-ahead dunk with 3:31 to play before Lonzo Ball made an artful step-back 3-pointer. Kuzma added two huge dunks down the stretch of Los Angeles' second win in two days after a 0-3 start.
"LeBron is doing what he always does," Denver coach Michael Malone said. "And LeBron is bringing their people to their confidence way up. You're seeing Kyle Kuzma and LeBron, their chemistry growing. "
Nikola Jokic scored 24 points for the Nuggets, who were off to their best start 2009-10 season. Jamal Murray scored 22 points and Monte Morris had 20, but Denver could not answer the Lakers' rally led by James, who posted his third career triple-double in Staples Center for his third different team.
"We're just coming out today, but we've got a couple of days off to revamp ourselves," said Morris, who added seven assists in just his eighth NBA game.
One night after their first win of the LeBron era in Phoenix, the Lakers beat the Nuggets at Staples for the fourth straight time.
TIP-INS
Nuggets: Isaiah Thomas attended the game, but did not play while recovering from offseason hip surgery. The compact guard finished last season with the Lakers, averaging 15.6 points in 17 games after getting traded by James' Cavaliers. … Will Barton missed his third straight game with a hip injury.
Lakers: Svi Rookie Mykhailiuk had four points. The Ukrainian guard scored his first NBA points one night earlier in Phoenix. … Fans near courtside besides Bryant included actor Michael B. Jordan, Dodgers slugger Yasiel Puig and NFL rushing leader Todd Gurley.
MISSING GUYS
Brandon Ingram and Rajon Rondo. The Houston Rockers last weekend, while Rondo can return Saturday in San Antonio.
KOBE'S HOUSE
Bryant sat with Lakers GM Pelinka Rob, his trainer agent, in a rare visit since the 20-year veteran lakers retired in 2016. Bryant spoke to a group of season ticket holders before the game about his forthcoming book.
"That's one of my favorite players," visibly excited Stephenson said afterward. "He was like, 'Good game,' after the game, so I was a little hyped."
LANCE BOILS
Stephenson provided an enormous boost for the Lakers on both ends of the court, in his usual inimitable style. The veteran said he was off the bench with a specific plan in mind: "Aggressive defense, and attack the big man (Jokic). We felt like their big man could not match our intensity, so when I got in there, I was like, 'Man, I'm going to attack the big man.' "
UP NEXT
Nuggets: Host New Orleans on Monday.
Lakers: At San Antonio on Saturday.
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