Nikola Jokic Leads Denver Nuggets to Victory over Los Angeles Lakers

• NBA

Denver, Colorado - In a thrilling showdown between the Denver Nuggets and the Los Angeles Lakers, the Denver basketball players emerged victorious, securing a 132-126 win in the first game of the Western Conference play-off finals of the NBA League.

The standout player of the game was none other than Nikola Jokic, whose exceptional performance once again left fans in awe.

Jokic's Triple-Double Extravaganza Secures Nuggets' Dominant Victory

Having showcased his brilliance throughout the first two rounds of the playoffs, Jokic continued to dazzle in the opening game against the Lakers, achieving a triple-double by the middle of the third quarter.

This marked his 12th triple-double in the playoffs and an impressive sixth in the current playoff season. These accomplishments have placed him in second place on the all-time list alongside legendary players Magic Johnson and Draymond Green, with only Wilt Chamberlain ahead of him, boasting seven triple-doubles.

Jokic, the Serbian center, concluded the game with a remarkable stat line of 34 points, 21 rebounds, and 14 assists. In doing so, he became the first player in the history of the NBA league to deliver a performance of 30/20/10 in the playoffs, surpassing the boundaries of conventional excellence.

Following the game, Caldwell-Pope, a Lakers player, acknowledged Jokic's phenomenal display and drew a comparison between him and LeBron James, stating, “I feel like the only difference is Bron can jump higher than Jokic".

“That's really offensive,” Jokic replied in faux indignation about his athletic abilities. “I'm joking. I mean, to be compared to one of the best ever — or THE best ever — I think is really cool." However, despite LeBron's noteworthy performance, amassing 26 points, 12 rebounds, and nine assists, his efforts were overshadowed by Jokic's monstrous contribution, which ultimately propelled the Nuggets to a convincing victory.

Nikola Jokic has his 6th triple-double of the 2023 Playoffs, tying Magic Johnson (1982) and Draymond Green (2019) for the 2nd most triple-doubles in a single postseason.

Only Wilt Chamberlain (7 in 1967) has recorded more.

pic.twitter.com/X2zkbY1OnV — NBA History (@NBAHistory) May 17, 2023

Lakers Struggle to Find Rhythm as Jokic Reigns Supreme

Reflecting on the game, LeBron admitted that the Lakers struggled to find their rhythm in the first half, allowing the Nuggets to take control.

He commented,“Yeah, it took us a half to get into the game,” James said, “and that was pretty much the ballgame right there. They punched us in the mouth to start. ... I know the game is won in 48 minutes, but they set the tone in 24 minutes and we were playing catch-up for the next 24”.

Despite the Lakers making a valiant effort to narrow the gap and coming within three points through an impressive 11:2 run towards the end, it was Jokic who sealed the deal for Denver with a buzzer-beating three-pointer.

In a nail-biting game, LeBron had an opportunity to equalize but was unable to convert, allowing Jokic to secure the final points from free throws. Both Jamal Murray, with 31 points, five rebounds, and five assists, and Anthony Davis, with an outstanding performance of 40 points and 10 rebounds, showcased their prowess on the court, adding to the spectacle of the game.