LOS ANGELES (AP) — Ty Lawson had 21 points and 10 assists, Danilo Gallinari scored 20 points and hit a big 3-pointer with 13.8 seconds left, and the Denver Nuggets beat the struggling Los Angeles Lakers 112-105 Sunday night for their fifth win in seven games.

JaVale McGee scored 17 points for the Nuggets, who showed no signs of weariness after a home win over Utah one night earlier. Despite two last-minute 3-pointers by Kobe Bryant, Denver maintained a lead throughout the fourth quarter of its second win in 12 days over the Lakers.

Bryant scored 29 points and Dwight Howard had 14 points and a career high-tying 26 rebounds for the Lakers, who have lost three straight and four of five.

Los Angeles’ star-studded roster dropped to 15-18 with another mediocre performance featuring 18 turnovers, intermittent defense and little structured offense down the stretch.

Denver beat the Lakers at Staples Center for just the fifth time in 26 meetings. The Nuggets hung on to their lead with big late baskets from Andre Miller and Lawson, whose layup put Denver ahead by eight points with 1:18 to play.

Bryant’s 3-pointer with 36 seconds left cut Denver’s lead to 105-102, and Howard emphatically blocked a layup attempt on the Nuggets’ next possession — but the ball went straight to Gallinari, who immediately drained a 3-pointer with 13.8 seconds left.

Bryant hit another 3-pointer with 11.2 seconds left, but Miller hit two free throws before Bryant missed another desperate 3-point try.

Andre Iguodala had 15 points, seven assists and six rebounds for the Nuggets, and Miller finished with 12 points and 10 assists.

Howard had an impressive game on the boards despite an injured right shoulder, matching his career high in rebounds in the final minutes. But he took just seven shots — making all of them except for a 3-point attempt — and went 2-for-6 on the free-throw line.

Steve Nash had 10 points and 13 assists for the Lakers, while Pau Gasol had 11 points and five rebounds before leaving with a bloody nose with 1:05 to play in a collision with McGee.

The Nuggets missed their first nine shots, … [For more on Nuggets hand struggling Lakers another loss, click here.]