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The Denver Nuggets extended their winning streak to nine games over the LA Lakers after Saturday's 114-103 Game 1 win over LeBron James and Co. at home. The Nuggets fans at Ball Arena brought back the "daddy" monicker as Nikola Jokic and the crew dominated LA in the second half.
The famous monicker was originally issued to Nuggets HC Michael Malone during the team's championship parade, but team announcer Vic Lombardi.
"He came into this world as the son of a coach, but in these playoffs, he became the Lakers daddy," said Lombardi.
The Nuggets fans had all the reasons to remind the Lakers about this after the win as they erupted with "Who's your daddy" chants towards the game's end. Here's the video posted from Ball Arena by Nuggets' beat reporter Rachel Strand on "X":
It was a close game in the first half, with LeBron James and Co. entering halftime boasting a three-point lead. They had a 12-point advantage at one point. However, the second half was lopsided in Denver's favor.
They went on a 20-4 run in the third, which swung the momentum and proved decisive to the eventual outcome.
LeBron James and Anthony Davis' big games not enough as Denver produces 2023 WCF flashbacks
Game 1 was eerily similar to how the LA Lakers' previous eight matchups, including last year's Western Conference finals series, went down. The Lakers kept up with Denver for most of the game but eventually ran out of stream and execution down the stretch. The Lakers had a 12-point lead in the first half, and it seemed like an upset was in the works.
However, the Nuggets showed why they are the defending champions and the most clinical clutch teams in the league towards the end of the first half and the entire final 24 minutes. Denver outscored the Lakers 32-18 in the third and split the fourth quarter 25-25 to seal the win.
The Lakers seemed clueless defensively against Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray's two-man game in that stretch. The Nuggets star duo combined for 31 points and eight assists in the second half. Denver shot 49.0%, including 9 of 19 from 3, while holding the Lakers to 41.7% shooting, including 4 of 16 from 3.
LeBron James and Anthony Davis were the only players to have a solid game for LA as the Lakers star duo scored 27 and 32 points, respectively. LeBron James shot 10 of 16, while Anthony Davis was 12 of 23 from the field.
However, an inefficient game from D'Angelo Russell (13 points on 6 of 20 shooting) and only 11 bench points, all from Taurean Prince, doomed the Lakers. Denver had 14 bench points, while all starters scored at least 12 apiece. Jokic had 32, while Murray finished with 22.
