Nuggets defeat Lakers in thrilling Recreation 1 of Western Convention finals

Nikola Jokic recorded his sixth triple-double of those playoffs with 34 factors, 21 rebounds and 14 assists, powering the Denver Nuggets to a 132-126 win over the Los Angeles Lakers within the opener of the Western Convention finals on Tuesday night time.

Behind Jokic‘s scorching begin and powerful end, and Jamal Murray‘s 31 factors, Denver beat the Lakers within the opener of a playoff sequence for the primary time ever.

The beginning of an immediate basic sequence?

After a gradual begin, Anthony Davis had 40 factors and 10 rebounds, and LeBron James completed with 26 factors, 12 boards and 9 assists. Austin Reaves chipped in 23 factors and fueled L.A.‘s determined fourth-quarter run that almost erased Denver‘s 14-point cushion after three.

The Nuggets led by as many as 21 however the Lakers pulled inside three factors twice within the fourth quarter, as soon as on Reaves‘ 3-pointer at 124-121 and once more on James‘ pair of free throws that made it 129-126 with 1:12 remaining.

Nuggets maintain on

After Jokic sank two free throws with 26 seconds left to present Denver a 131-126 lead, Murray poked the ball from James as he was about to take it to the ring and Jokic gathered the unfastened ball earlier than being fouled with 10.9 seconds left. He sank one in all two and James misfired from 3 because the seconds ticked off.

Recreation 2 is Thursday night time at Ball Area, the place the top-seeded Nuggets are 7-0 within the playoffs and 41-7 total, the perfect residence document within the league this season.