By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Nikola Jokic recorded his sixth triple-double of these playoffs with 34 points, 21 rebounds, and 14 assists, powering the Denver Nuggets to a 132-126 win over the Los Angeles Lakers in the opener of the Western Conference finals.
Behind the Joker and Jamal Murray’s 31 points, Denver beat the Lakers in the opener of a playoff series for the first time ever.
The Serb center made history, having 12 post-season triple-doubles, tied with Russell Westbrook and chasing LeBron James (28) and Magic Johnson (30).
For the losing side, Anthony Davis had 40 points and 10 rebounds, and LeBron James finished with 26 points, 12 boards, and nine assists. Austin Reaves chipped in 23 points and fueled L.A.’s desperate fourth-quarter run that nearly erased Denver’s 14-point cushion after three.
German guard Dennis Schroder added six points and five assists for the Lakers.
The Nuggets led by as many as 21 but the Lakers pulled within three points twice in the fourth quarter, once on Reaves’ 3-pointer at 124-121 and again on James’ pair of free throws that made it 129-126 with 1:12 remaining.
After Jokic sank two free throws with 26 seconds left to give Denver a 131-126 lead, Murray poked the ball from James as he was about to take it to the hoop and Jokic gathered the loose ball before being fouled with 10.9 seconds left. He sank one of two and James misfired from 3 as the seconds ticked off.