Highlights from Lakers vs. Nuggets, Suns vs. Warriors, including winners and losers
fancy rings with a resounding triumph. Before facing the Los Angeles Lakers to start the season, Denver lavishedly presented its players with title rings. The Nuggets subsequently defeated the Lakers 119-107.
All five Nuggets players reached double figures in scoring, led by Nikola Jokic’s 29 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists, Jamal Murray’s 21 points, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s 20 points.
Michael Porter Jr. added 12 points and 12 rebounds, and Aaron Gordon contributed 15 points, seven rebounds, and five assists.
The championship banner was raised to the rafters in front of a sold-out crowd, and the evening was completed off by a triumph.
The 2023–24 NBA season is under way and boy, is it off to an explosive start. The night starts out with a rematch between the Western Conference finals victim and title parade punching bag, the Los Angeles Lakers, and the reigning champion Denver Nuggets.
Then, we travel further west toward San Francisco, as Chris Paul faces his former club, the Phoenix Suns, in his first game for the Golden State Warriors.
Even if these matchups appear to be thrilling on their own, the chance to profit just adds more fuel for the beginning of the fire.
So let’s take a look at Tuesday’s two-game schedule and make some predictions for the 2023–24 season.
On Tuesday, October 24, the Western Conference doubleheader that kicks off the regular season features LeBron James’ Los Angeles Lakers visiting the Denver Nuggets before the Phoenix Suns, who have been upgraded with the addition of Bradley Beal along with Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, or the Golden State Warriors square off in San Francisco.
The season ends on April 14, 2024, followed by a play-in tournament on April 16–19 to determine the two remaining playoff seeds in each conference. The postseason starts on April 20.
Unfortunately for James, after traveling to Golden State for the opening game of the season the year before, his Lakers will once again watch their first opponent’s ring ceremony.
The ring ceremony downtown Denver, the customary celebration by the reigning champions, kicks off the NBA’s 78th season on Tuesday and serves as the highlight of the opening-night festivities.
The NBA hasn’t experienced a stretch of parity like the Nuggets’ in more than 40 years as they defeated Miami last June to win their fifth consecutive championship.
Denver coach Michael Malone remarked, “We’ve changed from being a team that’s hunting the teams ahead front of us to a team that’s being the hunted.”
“And hopefully our players are aware of the responsibility associated with becoming the champion in the current season. Because we’re receiving everyone’s best 82 times this year, there are usually no off nights.
Toronto, the Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee, Golden State, then Denver are the last five winners.
From 1977 to 1981, there were five seasons without a repeat champion, but the NBA was significantly different at the time.
Denver Nuggets and their fans
fancy rings with a resounding triumph. Before facing the Los Angeles Lakers to start the season, Denver lavishedly presented its players with title rings. The Nuggets subsequently defeated the Lakers 119-107.
The five Nuggets starters reached double figures in scoring, led by Nikola Jokic’s 29 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists, Jamal Murray’s 21 points, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s 20 points.
Michael Porter Jr. added a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds, and Aaron Gordon contributed 15 points, seven rebounds, & five assists.
Some of Phoenix’s new faces
The Suns had to revamp their roster and find depth in order to add Bradley Beal alongside Devin Booker and Kevin Durant.
With 10 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, Jusuf Nurkic made the game-winning layup after accumulating 14 points and 14 rebounds.
Drew Eubanks contributed four points, eight rebounds, three blocks, and Yuta Watanabe scored a team-high eight points and four rebounds.