Nuggets made Lakers Cry again
“Lakers Struggle as Nuggets Take Command in 127-102 Victory”
The Revenge still remains.
As we expected, the Los Angeles Lakers’ ongoing struggles came to the forefront once again, allowing the Denver Nuggets to outplay them for a second time. On Saturday, November 23, the Nuggets took the final laugh, defeating the Lakers 127-102 at the Crypto.com Arena. This was the first matchup of the season between the two teams, and although the Nuggets were seen as the favorites, the Lakers weren’t considered pushovers—especially when you factor in past performances. But as the saying goes, even a wounded lion can make a comeback, right? Well, not this time.
The Nuggets, brimming with confidence from their impressive season so far, added another win to their tally—making it 13 wins out of 14 games. This victory is a major wake-up call for the Lakers, who have now dropped another game, leaving them with plenty to think about. It’s worth noting both teams were coming off tough losses in their previous games: the Nuggets were taken down by the Dallas Mavericks, and the Lakers suffered a beating from the Orlando Magic.
That said, both teams were missing key players. The Nuggets were without DaRon Holmes II, Aaron Gordon, Vlatko Čančar, Jalen Pickett, and Spencer Jones. Meanwhile, the Lakers had their own set of absentees, including Hood-Schifino, Quincy Olivari, Christian Wood, Jaxson Hayes, Bronny James, and Jarred Vanderbilt.
The game started off as a tight contest, with both teams exchanging baskets in the first quarter. However, Nikola Jokić turned things up a notch in the closing seconds of the quarter, scoring back-to-back baskets to give the Nuggets a 31-27 lead. On the other side, LeBron James brought his A-game, trying to lead the Lakers with some flashy plays. His efforts helped the Lakers dominate the second quarter, with the veteran forward showing his skills on both ends of the floor. By halftime, the Lakers held a slim 63-57 lead, leaving fans wondering if this would be the moment the Nuggets’ winning streak would end, or if the Lakers could prove the doubters wrong.
LeBron finished the first half with 13 points, 4 rebounds, and 6 assists, while Anthony Davis was quieter than expected, contributing only 9 points and 6 rebounds. Jokić led the Nuggets with 17 points and 9 rebounds, while Christian Braun and Jamal Murray chipped in with 12 and 11 points, respectively.
But that was the end of competitive basketball for the Lakers. In the second half, the Nuggets took full control of the game, outscoring the Lakers 35-17 in the third quarter. This defensive breakdown and sputtering offense left the Lakers with a significant deficit to overcome. By the fourth quarter, the Lakers were staring at an 18-point gap, and it was clear they had no answer for Jokić’s relentless performance. At one point, it almost seemed like the Lakers had thrown in the towel, as they sat their starters on the bench for the final minutes.
Jokić finished the night with 34 points and 13 rebounds, putting on a masterclass. Former Laker Russell Westbrook, now on the Nuggets, also made an impact off the bench, notching 14 points and 11 assists in a solid double-double performance.
Looking ahead, the Lakers have a road trip with two tough West Coast games. First, they’ll face the Phoenix Suns, followed by a matchup against the San Antonio Spurs. Meanwhile, the Nuggets will host the New York Knicks at Ball Arena.
The Lakers have their work cut out for them!