Sensational Luka Doncic could mean sky's the limit for Lakers

He followed that five minutes later with a pull-up 27-footer that gave the Lakers a five-point lead, 21-16.

Doncic ended the game with 32 points, his most as a Laker. He had an inauspicious first three games in purple and gold, averaging 14.7 points per game on 35.6 percent shooting (20.7 percent from three-point range).

Doncic added 10 rebounds and seven assists for his 169th career game with at least 30 points, five rebounds and five assists, the most among active players since the start of the 2018-19 season. (h/t Stathead)

The win should be a significant confidence booster for Los Angeles. Four players scored at least 20 points.

The Nuggets (37-20, third in Western Conference) entered Saturday on a nine-game winning streak, including the past seven by double digits.

The Lakers (34-21, fifth in Western Conference) still have serious concerns, most pressing in their frontcourt. Denver outrebounded Los Angeles 45-39, and Nuggets center Nikola Jokic had a triple-double (12 points, 13 rebounds, 10 assists).

Those issues will be magnified if the teams cross paths in the playoffs, but so will Doncic's greatness. He averaged 28.9 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 8.1 assists per game during the Mavs' run to the NBA Finals last season. He's averaged 30.9 points per game in the playoffs throughout his career, up from his regular-season average of 28.5 points per game.

And we can't forget that he's paired with arguably the best player in NBA history.

James continues to defy logic in his age-40 season. One game after scoring 40 points in a 110-102 win over the Trail Blazers, he had 25 points, nine rebounds, five assists and a team-high three blocks against the Nuggets.

Are James and Doncic good enough to lead the Lakers through the arduous Western Conference? Beating the Nuggets is nice, but no one might get in the Thunder's way.

Still, stranger things have happened, like the Mavericks trading Doncic to the Lakers. We should know better than to rule it out.