In the first game of their NBA playoffs first-round series on Saturday, the Nuggets, who are the defending champions, overcame a sluggish beginning to defeat the Lakers 114-103, with Nikola Jokic scoring 32 points for the Nuggets.
The Nuggets, who swept the Lakers in four games during the Western Conference finals last season to win their first title, continued their dominance over the star-studded Lakers team. The Nuggets won all three regular-season meetings against the Lakers. Jokic contributed 12 rebounds and seven assists, Jamal Murray scored 22 points with 10 assists, and Michael Porter Jr. added 19 points. The Nuggets took control in the third quarter with a 13-0 scoring run, limiting the Lakers to just 18 points.
Anthony Davis scored 32 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, while LeBron James added 27 points for the Lakers. Despite cutting a 15-point deficit to six early in the fourth quarter, the Lakers were unable to maintain their momentum as the Nuggets pulled away again. Jokic’s lone three-pointer of the game extended the Nuggets’ lead to 103-93, and he also made a dunk over James. James fell hard with a minute left in the game but continued playing until the end.
In Minneapolis, Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves to a victory over the Suns in the Western Conference game, scoring 23 of his 33 points in the second half. Alongside Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert, who contributed 19 points and 14 points with 16 rebounds respectively, the Timberwolves were able to turn the tables against a team that had previously defeated them in the regular season.
The Timberwolves’ reserves, notably Nickeil Alexander-Walker with 18 points, outscored the Suns’ bench 41-18. With a 10-point lead at halftime, the Timberwolves dominated the third quarter, with Edwards scoring 18 points and engaging in some banter with Kevin Durant. Despite Durant’s 31 points and seven rebounds, and contributions from Devin Booker (18 points) and Bradley Beal (15 points), the Suns struggled to break through the Timberwolves’ strong defense anchored by Gobert.
In New York, Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart each scored 22 points for the Knicks, while Miles McBride had a strong performance off the bench with 21 points, 13 of which came in the second quarter. The 76ers received a boost just before halftime when Joel Embiid, the NBA Most Valuable Player, landed a highlight reel dunk but seemed to injure his surgically repaired left knee. He returned in the third quarter, making a steal and assisting Kelly Oubre Jr. for a dunk that gave the Sixers a three-point lead late in the period.
Despite Tyrese Maxey’s 33 points leading the Sixers, they couldn’t maintain their lead. In the final minutes, Josh Hart hit two three-pointers and OG Anunoby made another to secure the win for the Knicks. The Knicks will host game two on Monday, with the Sixers relieved that Embiid, who finished with 29 points, eight rebounds, and six assists, is expected to be ready as they aim to even the series.
In a game in Cleveland, Donovan Mitchell scored 30 points and Jarrett Allen contributed 16 points and 18 rebounds to help the Cavaliers secure a start-to-finish win. Allen aimed for this victory to establish the tone for their Eastern Conference series. Paolo Banchero of Orlando scored 24 points, but also accounted for nine of the Magic’s 12 turnovers.
