NBA Highlights - NBA Playoffs 2023 - Lakers VS Denver
Box score
Team | Field Goals | 3-Point FGs | Free Throws | Personal Fouls | Total Rebounds | Offensive Rebounds | Turn overs | Points Off Turnovers | Fast Break Points | Points in the Paints |
DEN | 50/91 54.9% | 15/32 46.9% | 17/22 77.3% | 21 | 47 | 15 | 11 | 5 | 19 | 50 |
LAL | 46/84 54.8% | 11/24 45.8% | 23/26 88.5% | 21 | 30 | 5 | 7 | 14 | 13 | 48 |
#15 Jokic 34Pts, 14 Ast, 21 Reb
#27 Jamal Murray 31 Pts, 5 Ast, 5 Reb
Game Highlight
NBA Highlights - Game Report
These Nuggets appear genuinely formidable with superstar Nikola Jokic leading the way.
Throughout the past few months, the Denver Nuggets have faced skepticism regarding their playoff reliability. Despite Nikola Jokic, a two-time MVP, being at the helm, doubts persisted about their ability to achieve postseason success. Even their impressive regular-season record, which topped the Western Conference for a significant period, was questioned as potentially illusory.
According to the prevailing narrative, the Nuggets lacked intimidation factor in the playoffs. However, they defied expectations in the first two rounds this year, convincingly eliminating both the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Phoenix Suns. They seemed poised to continue this trend against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals, displaying dominance. However, as the second half progressed, Denver's playoff resilience came under scrutiny once again, leaving room for doubts to resurface.
Regardless of fairness, the Nuggets have a significant stake in this series, where they currently hold a 1-0 lead following their 132-126 victory on Tuesday. Their primary objective is to demonstrate that their exceptional performance is not a fleeting illusion that dissipates in the month of May.
"After the game, Nuggets coach Michael Malone addressed his team in the locker room, emphasizing that they still have a considerable journey ahead in achieving their goals," said the coach.
The Nuggets have yet to reach the NBA Finals, and their last appearance in a championship round dates back to the 1975-76 season when they were part of the American Basketball Association. It is important to note that the majority of the team's disappointing history cannot be attributed to the current group of players.
Unfortunately, the Nuggets have faced recurring obstacles that have hindered their ability to contend for a championship, leading to criticism being directed towards them.
Despite Nikola Jokic's consistent All-Star performance over the past five seasons, the Nuggets have only reached the conference finals once during that time, which was in 2020. However, their playoff run was cut short as they lost to the Lakers in five games. It's worth noting that the 2020 playoffs took place in a closed site at Walt Disney World in Florida due to the coronavirus pandemic. In the subsequent two years, the Nuggets were eliminated from the postseason even earlier, primarily due to the absence of their talented point guard Jamal Murray. Murray suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee approximately a month before the 2021 playoffs, significantly impacting the team's performance.
As the season progressed, the Denver Nuggets appeared to be an unstoppable force. They held the top spot in the Western Conference or were tied for it from December 20 until the end of the season. Nikola Jokic once again had a remarkable season, performing at an MVP-caliber level, although he ultimately lost the award to Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers. Additionally, Jamal Murray made a strong comeback after recovering from a knee injury, adding to the Nuggets' formidable lineup. During January and February, the Nuggets boasted an impressive 75% win rate. However, some observers began to doubt the Nuggets' dominance, possibly due to their lackluster performance in March, where they went 7-7. This may have led to the perception that they were not as dominant as a top seed should be. Alternatively, the Nuggets may have been facing the consequences of public opinion influenced by their past playoff performances. The Denver Nuggets appear determined to shift the narrative this time, even though they insist on disregarding external opinions.
They effortlessly advanced past the Timberwolves and delivered a resounding blow to the Suns in the second round, securing a 25-point victory in the decisive Game 6.
"I suppose I'm not entirely sure what a championship team is supposed to look like," commented Jokic following the series. "But I believe that's how it's meant to appear. We maintained an unwavering focus on every aspect."
The current matchup against the Lakers has brought back memories of a previous Denver Nuggets team that the current Nuggets squad seeks to distance themselves from. It refers to the Nuggets' loss to the Lakers in the conference finals in 2020, which was the last time the two teams met in the playoffs. While the majority of the rosters have undergone significant changes since then, the star players remain the same: Jokic and Murray for the Nuggets, and LeBron James and Anthony Davis for the Lakers. Notably, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who played a crucial role for the Lakers in 2020, is now a key role player for the Nuggets.
All the players involved, including LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Nikola Jokic, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, have aged since their previous matchups. The Lakers' dynamic has shifted, with Davis now playing a more crucial role than before.
During Tuesday's game, for the first two and a half quarters, it seemed that this year's Lakers were outmatched by the Nuggets, rendering doubts about Denver's championship aspirations seemingly unfounded. The Nuggets scored an impressive 72 points and held an 18-point lead at halftime. Jokic had already recorded 19 points, 16 rebounds, and 7 assists.
According to James, it took the Lakers a half to find their rhythm, and that ultimately determined the outcome of the game. He stated, "That was pretty much the ballgame right there."
In the Lakers' previous playoff series against the Memphis Grizzlies and the Golden State Warriors, Davis's presence alone deterred opponents from venturing into the paint. However, the Nuggets did not succumb to such intimidation. Throughout much of the game, Davis found himself closely guarding Jokic, which limited his effectiveness compared to his dominant performances against the Warriors.
The Lakers had not faced a player quite like Jokic in the playoffs yet, primarily due to his unique skill set as a big man who can effortlessly score and pass. In a lighthearted manner, Lakers coach Darvin Ham jokingly suggested on Monday that the only way to stop Jokic was to kidnap him, emphasizing the challenges he poses to the opposing team.
By midway through the third quarter, Jokic had already achieved a triple-double, showcasing his incredible versatility on the court.
In an attempt to halt a Lakers' surge late in the third quarter, Jokic managed to sink an off-center, step-back 3-pointer at the buzzer, even with the imposing defense of Davis, who was waving his arms to disrupt the shot. Davis could only respond with a wry smile as he left the court, realizing that his best efforts couldn't contain Jokic's brilliance.
Jokic concluded the game with remarkable statistics of 34 points, 21 rebounds, and 14 assists, highlighting his impact across multiple facets of the game. Davis, on the other hand, contributed an impressive 40 points and 10 rebounds in his own right.
After the game, in the Nuggets' locker room, Coach Malone addressed his team with a mixture of pride and caution. He expressed satisfaction with their victory, as reported on ESPN, but also emphasized the need to improve their defense.
Ham alluded to the fact that he had more adjustments up his sleeve for Game 1. Malone stated his preference for addressing mistakes after a win rather than a loss.
Ultimately, what will truly validate the Denver Nuggets as championship contenders is not just the manner in which they win these games, but the fact that they consistently emerge victorious.
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