LOS ANGELES — Nikola Jokic poured in 34 points, and Michael Porter Jr. added 24 as the Denver Nuggets rallied in the second half to defeat the Los Angeles Lakers 127-102 on Saturday night.
Russell Westbrook contributed 14 points, 11 assists, and seven rebounds against his former team.
Austin Reaves scored 19 points, while LeBron James chipped in 18 for the Lakers, who suffered back-to-back home losses after starting the season 7-0 at home. Rui Hachimura, who returned to the starting lineup after missing five games due to a left ankle sprain, scored 10 points in 22 minutes.
This was the first meeting between the teams since the Nuggets eliminated the Lakers in the first round of the playoffs earlier this year. Denver had also swept them in the Western Conference Finals the previous season.
The Nuggets trailed by six points at halftime but outscored the Lakers 37-15 in the third quarter and 70-39 in the second half, dominating both inside and beyond the arc.
Takeaways
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Lakers: After leading 63-57 at halftime, the Lakers were outplayed in the third quarter, highlighting the need for improvement to break free from Denver's dominance.
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Nuggets: Despite playing on the second night of a back-to-back and traveling, Denver was sharp from long range, shooting 16-for-32 on 3-pointers.
Key Moment
Westbrook’s putback dunk at the end of the third quarter capped off a dominant period for Denver, extending their lead to 94-77. Westbrook celebrated with an emphatic arm twirl as he ran back down the court.
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Key Stat
In the third quarter, the Nuggets outscored the Lakers 20-4 in the paint. Jokic contributed nine points during this pivotal stretch, helping Denver score 37 points in the quarter.
Up Next
The Nuggets host the New York Knicks on Monday, while the Lakers travel to Phoenix to begin a road back-to-back.
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