Lakers' LeBron James hurts elbow in loss to Nuggets

Field Level Media|published: Fri 6th March, 02:07 2026

Mar 5, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) reacts on the court after a play in the fourth quarter against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James left a record-setting game due to a left elbow injury on Thursday in Denver.

With 4:05 to play in the Lakers' 120-113 loss to the Nuggets, James drove for a layup but went down hard beyond the baseline.

Play went up to the other end, where the Lakers committed a foul. When the television cameras cut back to James on the floor, the broadcast microphones clearly picked up James saying, "My elbow. F---. F---."

James came out of the game for good at that point, with Los Angeles trailing 110-106.

After the game, Lakers coach JJ Redick didn't have any details about James' prognosis.

"He fell on it," Redick said of James' elbow. "It was bothering him enough that he didn't feel comfortable (remaining in the game)."

Late in the first quarter of the game, James sank a jumper for his 15,838th career field goal, passing Lakers great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the all-time NBA record.

Three years ago, James topped Abdul-Jabbar to become the NBA's all-time leading scorers.

--Field Level Media

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