MADRID, 17 May. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Denver Nuggets won the first game of the NBA Western Conference final on Tuesday by beating the Los Angeles Lakers (132-126), with a brilliant performance by their best player, Serbian center Nikola Jokic, who added a spectacular ‘triple-double’.
In the reissue of the 2020 conference final, which the Lakers won, the Colorado franchise struck first thanks to its star, who added 34 points, 21 rebounds and 14 assists, making him the player with the most ‘triple- doubles’ of 30 points and 20 rebounds in the history of the ‘playoffs’, surpassing Wilt Chamberlain.
The Balkan was also well supported by Jamal Murray (31 points) or Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (21) and won the game against LeBron James, who was about to touch the ‘triple-double’ with 26 points, 12 rebounds and 9 assists.
The game had two very different parts, the first with an overwhelming start by Denver, supported by the rapid circulation of the ball, the success in the shot and an omnipresent Jokic in attack and defense, whom the Lakers were unable to control in all three initial quarters, in which the locals came to leave by 20 points.
In the fourth quarter, the Lakers found a way to minimize Jokic and supported by a great Anthony Davis (40 points and 10 rebounds) they got within three points thanks to the three-pointers and the defense of Austin Reaves (23), who one more day It was the surprise factor for Los Angeles. With 30 seconds to go, LeBron James had the tie, but his triple went off, leaving the victory in the hands of the locals.