DENVER — The Denver Nuggets showed they can not be counted out of NBA title race just yet, ending a nine-game losing skid in style with a 90-79 win over the league-leading Los Angeles Lakers. J.R. Smith scored 22 points in an impressive defensive performance by the Nuggets, who had seen their Northwest Division lead sliced to 2-1/2 games. The Lakers had their second-worst shooting night since the franchise moved to Los Angeles — 29.8 percent.