NBA's Ty Lawson -- Punished In Denver Drunk Driving Case ... Miraculously Avoids Jail

Indiana Pacers star Ty Lawson pulled off a miracle ... somehow avoiding jail in his Denver drunk driving case even though prosecutors desperately wanted him to serve time.

Lawson had pled guilty to driving while ability impaired back in November ... after failing field sobriety tests during his arrest on Jan. 23rd 2015. During the incident, cops say Lawson reeked of booze and couldn't stand up straight.

Prosecutors raised the issue that Lawson had 2 drunk driving incidents before the Denver arrest -- and was busted for DUI in L.A. in July -- saying he needed jail to learn his lesson.

But the judge said Lawson's 2 previous cases didn't count as "offenses" -- unclear why ... we're looking into it.

Regardless, Lawson was ultimately sentenced to 12 months probation and ordered to complete 48 hours of community service, 52 hours of therapy and NO MARIJUANA USE!