The incredible series of victories that the Denver Nuggets have in duels with the Los Angeles Lakers continues. Even for the 11th time in a row, Michael Malone’s team beat the gold-purple team, and early Friday morning at Central European time, it was 112:105 for the visiting Nuggets in “Crypto.com Arena” in El-Ey. Serbian center Nikola Jokić played a new brilliant game.
In doing so, the team from Colorado reached a 3-0 advantage in victories in the first round of the playoffs in the Western Conference.
Nikola Jokic spent 39 minutes on the field, scored 24 points (9/13 from the field, 6/7 free throws), 15 rebounds and 9 assists for another so-called. “Sombor-double” (statistical performance in which he lacks only one rebound or assist for a triple-double). In addition, he had 1 steal and 3 turnovers, as well as 4 personal fouls.
Unlike the first two games of the series, this time we did not see a dramatic finish, but the game was generally reminiscent of many past duels between these two teams. The Lakers led throughout the first half, the advantage was in double digits at some points, but taught by experience, the Nuggets fans were just waiting for their players to “add gas” in the second half.
It happened at the end of the third quarter, when “Zlatno Grumenje” took the lead Jokić and By Eron Gordon began a turnaround. At the end of the third period, Denver’s lead was 12 points, and in the middle of the fourth quarter, the guests reached +15 and practically broke the match.
In addition to Jokić, he stood out in the winning team Aaron Gordon with 29 points (12/18 from the field, 5/6 free throws), 15 rebounds and 3 assists. Jamal Murray scored 22 (8/21 from the field, 5s, 9as), a Michael Porter Jr had 20 points (8/16 from the field) and 10 rebounds. Fifth starter Kentavious Caldwell-Pope he scored 5 points.
The contribution of the Nuggets bench was insignificant (only 12 points), but with this kind of play by the first five, it was not even necessary.
As for the Lakers, Anthony Davis he had another outstanding individual game after which he had to settle for a bitter defeat. AJ scored 33 points (14/23 from the field, 5/7 penalties), 15 rebounds and 3 assists. LeBron James he followed with 26 points (12/20 from the field), 6 rebounds, 9 assists and 2 steals in 42 minutes of play.
Austin Reeves stood out in the team Darwin Ham with 22 points (8/17 from the field), but no one else had a double-digit scoring performance.
The fourth game of the series will also be played in “Crypto.com Arena”, and that duel is scheduled for early Sunday morning Serbian time. The winner of the Nuggets-Lakers series will play against the better team from the Minnesota Timberwolves-Phoenix Suns clash in the next round of the playoffs. The team from Minneapolis has a 2-0 advantage in victories.
In the remaining matches played on the night between Thursday and Friday CET, the following results were recorded:
Orlando Magic – Cleveland Cavaliers 121:83 (result in series 1-2)
Philadelphia Seventy-Sixers – New York Knicks 125:114 (result in the series 1-2)
There was a lot of discussion about whether they would be in the stands at this game Strahinja Jokićbrother Nikola Jokić who was the culprit of the incident in the stands during the last duel of the series, but the cameras did not record the presence of Nicole’s older brother in the “Crypto.com Arena”.
Jokić can go to the stands in Los Angeles
The man who filmed Strahinja Jokić announced himself
Nemanja and Strahinja Jokić have a bold NBA record of outings
Nikola did not need this, Jokići under investigation
Shame on Denver! Jokić’s brothers fight on the stand (VIDEO)
BONUS VIDEO
