Denver Nuggets Steal Series Opener from Lakers in Game 1
Nuggets Ride Jokic's Heroics to Victory
Los Angeles, CA - March 13, 2024
The Denver Nuggets opened their 2024 Western Conference Semifinal series with a thrilling 118-112 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night. Despite a sluggish start to the season, the Nuggets have found their form in the playoffs, led by the unstoppable force of Nikola Jokic.
Jokic, who has cemented himself as the league's premier big man, put up another historic performance in Game 1. He recorded his eighth triple-double of the playoffs, finishing with 32 points, 15 rebounds, and 12 assists. His dominance inside the paint was too much for the Lakers to handle, as he drew fouls and created scoring opportunities for his teammates.
The Lakers, who were the defending champions, struggled to find their rhythm offensively. LeBron James led the way with 27 points, but he shot just 11-of-25 from the field. Anthony Davis, who has been hampered by injuries this season, was held to 18 points on 6-of-14 shooting. The Lakers also committed 15 turnovers, which proved costly in the end.
The Nuggets took control of the game in the third quarter, outscoring the Lakers 34-22. Jokic played a major role in the surge, scoring 10 points and dishing out four assists. The Nuggets also tightened up their defense, forcing the Lakers into several turnovers.
The Lakers made a late push in the fourth quarter, closing the gap to just three points with 1:50 remaining. However, Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon hit key shots down the stretch to seal the win for the Nuggets.
With the victory, the Nuggets take a 1-0 lead in the series. Game 2 will be played in Los Angeles on Thursday night. The Lakers will need to find a way to slow down Jokic and limit their turnovers if they want to even the series.
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