Defending NBA champs Denver beat LeBron’s Lakers 114-103 in playoff opener | Basketball News

In a repeat matchup of final season’s Western Convention last, Denver clinched Recreation 1 over the Los Angeles Lakers.

The defending champions, Denver Nuggets, powered by 32 factors from Nikola Jokic, shook off a sluggish begin to beat LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers 114-103 in recreation considered one of their NBA playoffs first-round sequence.

The Nuggets, who swept the Lakers in 4 video games within the Western Convention finals on the best way to their first title final season, continued their dominance of star-studded Los Angeles on Saturday.

Jokic added 12 rebounds and 7 assists, Jamal Murray added 22 factors with 10 assists and Michael Porter Jr scored 19 for the Nuggets, who used a 13-0 scoring run to take cost within the third quarter – during which they restricted the Lakers to 18 factors.

James scored 32 factors and grabbed 14 rebounds and Anthony Davis added 27 for the Lakers, who reduce a 15-point deficit early within the fourth quarter to 6 just for the Nuggets to tug away once more.

Jokic’s solely three-pointer of the sport pushed the Nuggets’ result in 103-93. He added a dunk over James, who took a tough fall with a minute remaining however stayed within the recreation to the bitter finish.

“Mindset wanted to alter,” Jokic mentioned of the Nuggets’ third-quarter resurgence. “I believe for the second half defence was wonderful.”

Lakers coach Darvin Ham mentioned the Nuggets’ 15-6 superiority in offensive rebounding was key as Denver piled up 18 second-chance factors.

“You’ll be able to’t permit them to get a number of possessions,” mentioned Ham, who added that he nonetheless believed the best-of-seven sequence, which resumes Monday, shall be a “arduous fought” affair.

The sport was the finale of the primary day of the playoffs, which noticed the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Phoenix Suns 120-95, the New York Knicks beat the Philadelphia 76ers 111-104 and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Orlando Magic 97-83.