Luka Dončić scored 32 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, dished out seven assists, and stole four passes while leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a 123-100 wipeout of the Denver Nuggets, who had won nine consecutive games, on Saturday night.
Finally, I feel like myself a little bit, Dončić said. Playing this game is my favorite thing to do. Just finally being myself a little bit, that’s why I was smiling all game.
LeBron James had 25 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 blocks as the Lakers led from start to finish against their most recent opponent. Additionally, he frequently received Donovan’s long passes for fastbreak points. James jokingly stated, I am a natural-born wide receiver and he is a natural-born quarterback. According to Doni, he is still developing his relationship with the Lakers, including James.
Doni said This is my fourth game. Time is required for chemistry. Today, you saw that it is getting better. Every day, it’s getting better. … I’m glad to be playing basketball, even though it’s challenging and different. Every day, I’m going to get better. I’m happy to be here. I am excited about the new journey.
The Lakers and their fans should be encouraged by James and Anthony Davis’ performance in Denver, where the Nuggets defeated them in the first round and won eight of nine games, as they did the previous two years. Denver committed 22 errors, whereas the Nuggets had only six steals and the Lakers had only nine. Additionally, they added nine points with just one more shot.
The Lakers limited the reigning MVP to just 2-of-7 shooting and forced him into a half-dozen uncharacteristic turnovers, all while giving up his 26th triple-double of the season. It was their night, Jamal Murray said. Defensively and offensively. The Lakers came from behind to win in Denver for the first time since April 2022. Doni had 19 points by halftime after missing several weeks with a calf injury. Since the big trade, he had been slowly getting back in shape and adjusting to his new team. James, on the other hand,
claimed that he saw a dialed-in Doni in Denver—the same Doni who led the Mavericks to the NBA Finals the year before. Once he started hitting those stepback 3s, he could be yelling or barking, either at fans, us, or himself, James claims. To have a blackout moment where he’s yelling, said Lakers coach JJ Reddick before the start of the game. Reddick wanted Doni to see his player’s passionate side. He got that moment when Dončić hit a three-pointer in the final minute of the first half and let out a big scream.
Reddick commented It was great.