'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The LA Lakers are in Mile High City for a much-awaited mouthwatering showdown with the defending champion Denver Nuggets. Los Angeles will attempt to do what it could not do over the past eight meetings with its familiar opponent - beat Denver. LeBron James and Anthony Davis were cleared to play hours before the showdown so the Lakers are hyped for Game 1.
LA had a fast start behind LeBron James' early 10-point outburst but the hosts kept the visitors from running away. Nikola Jokic's surge helped the Nuggets stay close but Los Angeles finished with a 33-25 advantage after the first 12 minutes ended.
"King James" and "The Joker" trooped to the bench to start the second quarter. With both getting a breather, it was Anthony Davis and Jamal Murray who put their respective teams on their back.
Denver struggled more than Los Angeles when the superstars sat out. AD did a better job without James than Murray did minus Jokic. When Nuggets coach Mike Malone sent the two-time MVP to resuscitate the team, Darvin Ham responded by bringing back LA's four-time MVP.
The LA Lakers looked like they were leaving the Denver Nuggets behind when they built a 49-37 lead, forcing Malone to call a ceasefire. Following a timeout, the Nuggets dropped a sizzling 8-0 run to make it 49-45, giving Ham no choice but to gather his troops.
The game was even with a few seconds left before LeBron James sunk a 28-footer to give LA a 60-57 lead before halftime. "King James" and Anthony Davis had 19 and 18 points, respectively while Nikola Jokic had 11.
The offensive rhythm that the LA Lakers had in the first half almost totally left them. They were stagnant and forgot to bring the flow of their execution out of the locker room. After dropping 33 and 27 in the first two quarters, LA could only cough up 18 in the third period.
The Denver Nuggets defense finally bared some teeth. The players showed more sense of urgency, hustle and energy on that end to stop LA cold on its track. A 13-3 run to end the frame gave the hosts an 89-78 advantage.
LeBron James looked tired even after starting the final quarter on the bench. He didn't have the same energy the way he started the game. But, to the Lakers' credit, they kept fighting and cut down Denver's lead to six points twice.
Game 1, however, followed the same script that dictated the past eight encounters between the two teams. The Denver Nuggets just had more poise, control and resilience to keep the LA Lakers at arm's length. Nikola Jokic's second-half brilliance was also on full display to lead the hosts to a 114-103 victory.
LA Lakers vs Denver Nuggets game player stats and box scores
LA Lakers game player stats and box scores
Denver Nuggets game player stats and box scores
LeBron James, D'Angelo Russel, Austin Reaves, Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray 3-pointers tonight
LeBron James couldn't seem to miss in the first half of Game 1 versus the Denver Nuggets, making all three 3-point attempts. D'Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves were on the opposite end of James' efficiency for the LA Lakers. The two couldn't sink one triple in seven attempts.
Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray also struggled from the same distance in the first half, combining 2-for-8.
"King James'" hot hand fizzled starting the second half where he shot blanks on two attempts, finishing 3-for-5 for the night. Russell and Reaves were part of the Lakers' ghastly output from deep, connecting on just 3-for-15 between themselves.
"The Joker" and "Glitch" were moderate with their long-range bombs, hitting 5-for-12 trifectas.
