LOS ANGELES — The Denver Nuggets achieved a commanding victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night, with a final score of 127-102. Nikola Jokic led the charge for the Nuggets, scoring 34 points, while Michael Porter Jr. contributed 24 points to the win.
Former Lakers player Russell Westbrook put up a notable performance against his old team, finishing the game with 14 points, 11 assists, and seven rebounds. For the Lakers, Austin Reaves was a bright spot, scoring 19 points, while LeBron James added 18 points. This defeat marks the second consecutive loss for the Lakers at home, which is a marked contrast to their strong start with a 7-0 record at home earlier in the season. Rui Hachimura returned to the starting lineup after missing five games due to an ankle injury, contributing 10 points in his 22 minutes of play.
This game was particularly significant as it was the first matchup between the Nuggets and the Lakers since Denver eliminated Los Angeles in the first round of the playoffs earlier this year. Additionally, the Nuggets previously swept the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals the year before that.
At halftime, the Nuggets found themselves trailing by six points. However, they exploded in the second half, outscoring the Lakers 37-15 in the third quarter and 70-39 overall in the latter half. The Nuggets dominated in both interior and perimeter scoring, showcasing their depth and resilience.
In terms of observations from the game, the Lakers, who managed to lead 63-57 at the half, struggled significantly during the third quarter, allowing the Nuggets to pull away. This performance indicated an ongoing need for improvement for the Lakers in competing against the Nuggets. On the other side, the Nuggets demonstrated confidence, even while playing on the second night of a back-to-back. They maintained their energy and accuracy, making 16 of 32 three-point attempts.
A pivotal moment in the game occurred towards the end of the third quarter, when Westbrook executed a powerful putback dunk, capping off a strong quarter for Denver and boosting their lead to 94-77. His energetic celebration as he returned down the court underscored the momentum swing.
A striking statistic from this game was the Nuggets’ dominance in the paint during the third quarter, where they outscored the Lakers 20-4. Jokic played a crucial role in this, scoring nine points during the decisive third quarter where Denver tallied 37 points.
Looking ahead, the Nuggets will host the New York Knicks on Monday, while the Lakers will head to Phoenix to kick off a road back-to-back series.
