By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Nikola Jokic posted 32 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists to lead the Denver Nuggets past the Los Angeles Lakers 114 – 103 in Game 1 of the Western Conference quarterfinals. This was the ninth straight win for the Nuggets over the Lakers.
Jokic, who shot 15 – 23 from the field, and his teammates saw the Lakers getting a 12-point lead (49 – 37) halfway through the second period before coming closer to close halftime 60 – 57. The Nuggets turned the game completely around after halftime to go up 89 – 75 late in the third quarter.
The Lakers tried to come back but Denver held on to get the victory in its pursuit to defend the title.
“We’re not going anywhere,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. “This is the playoffs. No team in the playoffs, if you get down 12 early, you’re not going to just take your ball and go home. We still have plenty of fight left in us and we know that we were better than what we were playing early.”
Anthony Davis put up 32 points, 14 rebounds and five assists for the Lakers. LeBron James had 19 out of his 27 points in the first half, finishing also with eight assists and six rebounds.
Jamal Murray contributed 22 points, 10 assists and six rebounds to the Nuggets’ win. His team completed the game with just four turnovers against the Lakers’ 12 while getting nine more offensive rebounds (15 vs. 6).
Meanwhile, the New York Knicks beat the Philadelphia 76ers 111 – 104 behind the duo of Josh Hart (22 points, 13 rebounds) and Jalen Brunson (22 points, seven rebounds, seven assists).
In his first playoff game after 2022, Bojan Bogdanovic had 13 points and seven rebounds to help the Knicks. Isaiah Hartenstein pitched in six points and seven rebounds.