Nuggets start their title defense with a strong 114-103 victory against Lakers

In a thrilling Western Conference playoff opener, Nikola Jokic led the defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets to a 114-103 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night. Jokic contributed 32 points and 12 rebounds to secure the win.

Joining Jokic in the double-double category were Jamal Murray, with 22 points and 10 assists, and Anthony Gordon, with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Michael Porter Jr. also made a significant impact with 19 points and eight boards.

LeBron James put up a strong performance for the Lakers, scoring 27 points, while Anthony Davis added 32 points and 14 rebounds. However, the Lakers suffered their ninth consecutive loss to the Nuggets, with this defeat marking only LeBron James’ fourth loss in 17 first-round openers.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s 12 points after halftime, including a trio of 3-pointers in a 13-0 run, helped the Nuggets seize control in the third quarter. Coach Michael Malone praised Porter Jr.’s performance on the court, noting the challenging week his family faced with one brother sentenced to jail for a fatal drunken driving crash and another banned from the NBA for gambling.

The Nuggets, boasting a franchise record of 57 regular-season wins, aim to defend their title. With a confident mindset and strong gameplay, the Nuggets are eyeing a repeat championship victory. The Lakers will have a chance for redemption in Game 2 at Ball Arena on Monday night, aiming to break their losing streak against the Nuggets.