Doncic has a triple-double as the Lakers rally past the short-handed Nuggets, 115-107

DENVER (AP) — Luka Doncic had 38 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists, and the Los Angeles Lakers rallied to beat the Denver Nuggets 115-107 on Tuesday night.

LeBron James, who was not voted an All-Star starter for the first time since his rookie season, scored 19 points for Los Angeles, which played the second half without center Deandre Ayton due to a left eye injury.

Jamal Murray scored 26 of his 28 points in the first half for Denver and added 11 assists, but shot just 1 for 5 in the second half.

With Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II sitting courtside, the short-handed Nuggets led by 16 in the third quarter despite missing four rotation players, including Nikola Jokic, who has missed the last 12 games with a hyperextended left knee.

Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson scored 18 apiece for the Nuggets.

A close game added to the budding rivalry that began in the 2023 Western Conference finals, when Denver swept the Lakers on its way to the NBA title.

It appeared the Nuggets would cruise to another win after jumping out to a 13-point lead in the first quarter and had a strong end to the second quarter.

Murray finished the first half with a 35-second flurry to give Denver a 71-57 lead. He fed Gordon for a lob dunk, assisted on Watson’s 3-pointer with 7.3 seconds left and then drained a 56-foot heave at the horn.

Murray missed both of his shots in the third quarter when Los Angeles outscored the Nuggets 29-17 to close within 88-86.

The Lakers tied it early in the fourth and took their first lead on two free throws by Doncic with 6:42 left during a 16-0 run that turned a two-point deficit into a 108-96 lead.

Lakers: Head back to Los Angeles for a road game at the Clippers on Thursday night.

Nuggets: Begin a three-game road trip at Washington on Thursday night.

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Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) reacts to a Denver Nuggets three point basket during the second half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon dunks against the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Denver Nuggets forward Spencer Jones (21) fouls Los Angeles Lakers forward Luka Dončić (77) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray celebrates a three point basket against the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Denver Nuggets guard Peyton Watson (8) goes up for a shot against Los Angeles Lakers forward/guard Luka Dončić (77). during the second half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

At Taste of East African in Minneapolis, the manager and owner are the only employees who come to work now, serving new customers who aren’t familiar with the food but are trying to support a restaurant challenged by a federal immigration enforcement surge.

Like the employees, the usual patrons are afraid to come to a restaurant in an area heavily populated by immigrants that has been a frequent target of immigrant enforcement actions. Gig workers aren't accepting orders for delivery because they, too, are afraid.

“Even if you tell ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) you’re a citizen they won’t listen, so everyone is scared,” said the restaurant's manager, Hibaq Nimale, who is a U.S. citizen raised in Kenya as a refugee from Somalia.

Businesses across large swaths of Minneapolis have taken a hit as President Donald Trump’s administration carries out a massive immigration sweep that has spurred protests. As staff and customers stay home and protesters target businesses they see as aiding federal immigration enforcement, countless stores have temporarily closed, canceled events or reduced hours. Some hotels that housed federal immigration officers and saw protests have stopped accepting reservations altogether, while Minneapolis-based Target Corp. also has seen protests.

The state of Minnesota and the Twin Cities cited devastating economic impacts in a lawsuit filed this month imploring a federal judge to halt the immigration operations. The lawsuit asserted that some businesses have reported sales drops up to 80%.

An October report from the Minneapolis Federal Reserve noted sluggish economic indicators even before over 2,000 federal immigration officers began arriving in Minneapolis and St. Paul. But a January report emphasized that some Minnesota businesses experienced dampened sales and slower foot traffic out of “fear of immigration enforcement.” Nearly 20% of all businesses surveyed reported lower employment head counts citing similar concerns.

“I’m seeing it impact everybody, just because of the lower levels of people traveling and spending discretionary income,” Adam Duininck, the CEO of the Minneapolis Downtown Improvement District.

Even white collar businesses have been impacted, according to Fred Haberman, the co-founder and CEO of a small marketing firm in Minneapolis. His operations have been impacted because of significant disruptions to “support systems,” like schools and day care programs, that employees rely on to maintain regular work schedules, he said.

He worries that the city's economic landscape could be permanently altered if the federal government doesn't reverse course soon.

“Many of these businesses don’t have huge margins to play around with,” Haberman said.

In a statement, Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin pointed to the protests and what she called “the fact sanctuary policies won't allow us to work with state and local law enforcement” when asked about the economic concerns.

Massive hotel chains like Hilton have struggled to navigate the conflict. At least one location canceled reservations for federal immigration officers after frequent protests — only to reverse course after the DHS accused it of impeding law enforcement.

At least three hotels in the Twin Cities that protesters said housed immigration officers were not accepting reservations Wednesday. Rooms could not be booked online before early February at the Hilton DoubleTree and IHG InterContinental in downtown St. Paul and at the Hilton Canopy in Minneapolis.

Over the phone, an InterContinental hotel front desk employee said it was closing for the safety of the staff but would not elaborate. Signs in front of the DoubleTree and InterContinental said they were “temporarily closed for business until further notice.” The Canopy, which has been the site of noisy protests by anti-ICE demonstrators aimed at preventing federal officers from sleeping, was open but not accepting reservations.

Hilton and IHG did not respond to emails seeking comment.

Duininck said hotels are balancing economically prudent decisions with safety. He noted that many that remain open have reported fewer reservations and more cancellations than usual.

“What feels safe for me as a business person is different from people that are coming down here to go to the job,” Duininck said, noting that many employees in the hotel industry are non-white and fear profiling from federal agents. On the other hand, many hotel owners are trying to avoid intense economic retaliation from the federal government or protesters.

That impossible choice embodies “exactly what the political moment is for our city and for our country,” he said.

Faith leaders, labor unions and activists are calling for residents of the Twin Cities to not work, shop or go to school on Friday “to demand immediate cessation of ICE actions,” according to the event's website.

Boycotts and economic protests are a familiar tactic in the area.

Civil rights leaders in Minnesota were among some of the first nationally to call for a full boycott of Target Corp. early last year after the retailer announced it would phase out a handful of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives following Trump's push to dismantle DEI policies in the federal government and schools.

Last week, roughly 100 clergy protested at the entrance to Target’s downtown Minneapolis headquarters to demand the retailer take a stronger stand against federal law enforcement activity.

Videos have also shown demonstrators at Target locations in St. Paul, carrying signs calling for the abolition of ICE and accusing the massive retailer of allowing federal law enforcement to stage operations on its properties.

Anyone — including immigration enforcement officers — can legally enter the public areas of a business. Those can include dining areas, parking lots, office lobbies and store aisles. In those places, immigration officials can question people, seize information and even make arrests, according to John Medeiros, who leads the corporate immigration practice at Minneapolis-based law firm Nilan Johnson Lewis.

But workers and patrons have some legal protections. They can decline to talk to immigration enforcement officers, refuse to consent to searches or ask for an attorney.

ICE needs permission from the employer or a judicial warrant to enter private spaces of a business, such as a back office or an emergency room. A judicial warrant must be signed by a judge and list a specific authorizing court. Those warrants can be limited to specific days or types of information about the business. Experts stress that it’s important to educate workers about their rights, what areas of the business are private and how to differentiate between warrants.

Immigration attorneys have raised alarm about ICE entering private spaces without proper warrants and detaining people unlawfully.

Medeiros encourages people to record encounters with federal agents.

Nimale said Tastes of East African's economic challenges have been at least temporarily offset by an outpouring of support from her non-immigrant neighbors. Before the crackdown, she estimates that close to 80% of her customers were Somali. Now, it's roughly 10%, with new customers who are otherwise unfamiliar with that regional cuisine filling in the gap despite the slower the usual service due to a lack of employees.

Nimale said she is grateful for her neighbors' kindness but worries it's far from a sustainable solution.

“We don't know how long we can get support,” she said.

Associated Press reporter Wyatte Granthan-Philips contributed reporting.

A view of the 24 Somali Mall in Minneapolis, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

A sign is taped to the outside of the 24 Somali Mall in Minneapolis, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Community members and neighbors of people detained by ICE gather in protest at a Target store, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)