One Critical Early-Game Mistake Doomed Lakers in Game 1 Loss to Nuggets
126 vs 132 Box Score, Shot Charts, and Play-by-Play Summary
The Nuggets Take a 1-0 Series Lead in the Western Conference
The first round of the NBA playoffs kicked off on Tuesday night, and the Denver Nuggets wasted no time in taking a 1-0 series lead over the Los Angeles Lakers. Led by two-time MVP Nikola Jokic, the Nuggets earned a 132-126 victory in Game 1 at Ball Arena.
The Lakers made a critical mistake early in the game that ultimately cost them the victory. With just over four minutes remaining in the first quarter, LeBron James attempted a three-pointer from the top of the key. However, the shot was well off the mark, and the Nuggets were able to secure the rebound and start a fast break.
The Nuggets' fast break led to an easy layup for Aaron Gordon, and the Lakers never recovered from that point on. Denver extended its lead to as many as 16 points in the second quarter, and the Lakers were never able to get closer than five points in the second half.
Jokic was the star of the game for the Nuggets, finishing with 31 points, 13 rebounds, and 9 assists. Jamal Murray added 26 points, while Gordon contributed 20 points and 12 rebounds. For the Lakers, Anthony Davis led the way with 31 points, while James added 22 points and 10 rebounds.
The Lakers will now need to regroup and find a way to bounce back in Game 2, which will be played on Thursday night at Ball Arena. The Nuggets will be looking to take a 2-0 series lead and put the Lakers on the brink of elimination.
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