The Denver Nuggets, despite a sluggish beginning and the overwhelming cheers for the Los Angeles Lakers during pregame introductions, found their stride in the second half to secure a 114-103 win in the NBA playoff opener on Saturday night. This marked their ninth consecutive victory against the Lakers.
Nikola Jokic spearheaded the Nuggets’ comeback with 32 points and 12 rebounds. After trailing at halftime, Denver limited LeBron James, who had scored 19 points in the first half, to just nine in the second half.
James didn’t attempt his first shot of the fourth quarter until there was only 1:20 left, effectively neutralizing his impact as the game concluded.
Nuggets coach Michael Malone emphasized the team’s resilience, stating, “This is the playoffs. No team, if you get down early, is going to just take your ball and go home. We still have plenty of fight left in us, and we know we were better than what we were playing early.”
The Nuggets’ victory was bolstered by not only Jokic but also key performances from Jamal Murray, who posted 22 points and 10 assists, and Anthony Gordon, who contributed a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Michael Porter Jr. nearly had a double-double himself with 19 points and eight rebounds.
Denver’s defense tightened significantly in the second half, and their ability to control the rebound battle and maintain possession underscored their dominance. They outrebounded the Lakers 52 to 34 and limited themselves to only four turnovers for the entire game.
The Lakers, despite a strong start, couldn’t maintain their momentum. James finished with 27 points, and Anthony Davis added 32, but their efforts were overshadowed by the Nuggets’ second-half surge.
Lakers coach Darvin Ham acknowledged Denver’s home-court advantage, remarking, “They held serve at home. They’re a tough home team, tough to beat in general, but they’re really good at home.”
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope‘s 12-point contribution, all in the second half, highlighted a crucial 13-0 Nuggets run in the third quarter that shifted the game’s momentum permanently in their favor.
Off the court, Michael Porter Jr. faced personal challenges, as his brother was sentenced the day before the game.
Despite this, Porter focused on his responsibilities to the team, stating, “I think I definitely tried to compartmentalize. Some bad and sad stuff happened to a couple of my brothers, but I got 15, 16 more brothers in here. So I knew I had to be here for them and come in here and do my job.”
With a franchise record-tying 57 wins in the regular season, the defending NBA champion Nuggets entered the playoffs aiming to repeat their success.
The team displayed their characteristic confidence and camaraderie, exemplified by Jokic’s light-hearted arrival at the arena dressed in a playful outfit, signaling their readiness to defend their title.
As the series progresses, the Nuggets look to maintain their intensity and focus, while the Lakers plan to regroup and adjust for Game 2, hoping to even the series.
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