DENVER — Luka Doncic delivered an impressive performance, scoring 32 points, leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a decisive 123-100 victory against the Denver Nuggets on Saturday evening. This win marked the end of the Nuggets’ impressive nine-game winning streak.

LeBron James contributed significantly with 25 points, while Austin Reaves added 23 points to the mix. Rui Hachimura chipped in with 21 points but had to exit the game clutching his left side with 10 minutes remaining. Nevertheless, the Lakers surged ahead, extending their lead by going on a 12-2 rally, ultimately pushing their advantage to 19 points.

The Lakers maintained control throughout the game, never falling behind at any point during the match. This victory in Denver was particularly sweet, as it was their first win there since April 10, 2022, having suffered losses in 13 of their last 14 encounters with the Nuggets.

Doncic’s performance was noteworthy as he had averaged only 14.7 points in his initial three games with the Lakers. He managed to surpass that figure in under ten minutes and reached 19 points by halftime, with the Lakers leading 63-54.

For Denver, Aaron Gordon led with 24 points, and Jamal Murray contributed 19 points. Nikola Jokic recorded his 26th triple-double of the season, but his night was marred by shooting just 2 of 7 from the field and committing six turnovers.

It’s worth mentioning that during Michael Malone’s ten-year tenure as head coach, the Nuggets have never achieved a ten-game winning streak.

**Key Takeaways**:
For the Lakers, they return home to kickoff a season-high six-game homestand starting Tuesday night against the Dallas Mavericks, marking Doncic’s first time facing his former team since being traded to LA in exchange for Anthony Davis earlier this year.

As for the Nuggets, this loss slightly dampens the momentum generated by their recent success, particularly since none of their nine consecutive victories were against teams currently ranked in the top six of their conference.

**Key Moment**:
The Lakers allowed the Nuggets to score the first eight points of the second half, narrowing the gap to 63-62, but quickly responded with a 10-0 run, with James igniting the surge through a dunk and concluding with a three-pointer from Doncic.

**Key Stat**:
Both teams had identical shooting from beyond the arc, with each making 16 of 41 attempts.

**Looking Ahead**:
The Lakers will host the Mavericks on Tuesday night, while the Nuggets are set to visit Indiana on Monday evening.