The Los Angeles Lakers’ bid to reach the play-ins has been put in serious doubt by a sixth consecutive defeat in going down to the Denver Nuggets.
Nikola Jovic had 38 points and 18 rebounds as the Nuggets won 129-118, with Will Barton adding 25 points.
Playing at home, the Lakers missed LeBron James, who has a sore ankle. The Lakers, 17-time NBA champions, sit 11th in the Western Conference, having been beset by injuries throughout the season.
Anthony Davis, who top-scored for the Lakers with 28 points, said: “I think the biggest thing that I think about personally is what we could have been, had we stayed healthy all year.
Teams from seventh to 10th in the Eastern Conference and Western Conference progress to the play-ins. Two teams from each division can then secure a place in the end-of-season play-offs.
In other results Golden State warriors returned to winning ways as they beat Sacramento Kings 109 -90 and Miami heat overcame Toronto Raptors 114-109.
Phoenix Suns lost 117 -96 in the hands of Oklahoma city thunder.