It’s time: Nuggets put their title back on the line and begin their defense by welcoming the Lakers, the evening of the traditional ring ceremony. A special match, because it is quite simply the revenge of the last conference final in the West…
The emotion of the pre-match did not in any case have any repercussions on the start of the match. Denverjust out of control offensively and who ends this first quarter with a 16-4, to already put Los Angeles on the ropes (34-20). The calculations are not good in the Californian camp, since it is not by betting everything on the attack and not defending that they will worry the reigning champions. Even more so if the shots don’t fall in and if Nikola Jokic can walk around on the floor…
In the second quarter, the Nikola Jokic show picks up again and no one, not even Anthony Davis, fails to slow him down. “AD” however has the merit of fueling the Lakers’ scoring on the other side, to keep his team away from the Nuggets. However, Michael Malone’s men continue to advance thanks to their points in transition, their aggressiveness, their outside skill, their second chance points and even the contribution of their bench. At the break, they are in front (63-54) but the “Purple & Gold” are there.
Returning from the locker room, Los Angeles has the balls to get closer but does not take advantage of it, which allows Denver to take off again. It’s not for lack of trying for the surprising Taurean Prince and one D’Angelo Russell finally in the place, but Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon Or Kentavious Caldwell-Pope perfectly relays Nikola Jokic in scoring. Enough to maintain control, even if the players of Darvin Ham signed a 9-0 to give less relief to the gap (87-80). And hope for a hold-up?
The answer is no. Certainly back to one possession, the Lakers poorly manage their minutes without LeBron James and let go, while Anthony Davis remained transparent in the second half and Nikola Jokic quietly validated his first triple-double of the season. Just too strong and efficient, the Nuggets once again leave the LA franchise powerless, confirming that they have what they need in stock to aim for the double (119-107).
TO REMEMBER
– The first message from the champion. Ideal evening for the Nuggets players, who collected their rings and hung their banner, before giving a little lesson in efficiency and control to the Lakers. Behind an already/still very good Nikola Jokic, the reigning champions put Los Angeles through the mill, cutting up this defense with incredible ease and once again punishing their opponents with 3-points, rebounds and in transition. Like last spring, the two teams could have played for hours, but Denver would never have cracked, constantly achieving the action needed to push LA back. Serious.
– 0. Or the number of points Anthony Davis scored in the second half. Already the Lakers were struggling to find solutions in attack behind “AD”, LeBron James and Taurean Prince, the disappearance of their interior star irremediably precipitated their defeat.
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
