Luka Doncic delivered a masterclass performance, scoring 21 of his 31 points in the first quarter, as the Los Angeles Lakers cruised to a 120-108 victory over the shorthanded Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night. Austin Reaves added 22 points, while Dorian Finney-Smith chipped in 14 to help the Lakers extend their winning streak to three games and secure their ninth consecutive home victory.
Despite missing key starters LeBron James for the fifth straight game and Rui Hachimura for the ninth, the Lakers stormed to a 46-point first quarter—their highest-scoring quarter of the season. Doncic, who recently joined the team, had his most dominant quarter yet in a Lakers jersey. Los Angeles drained nine three-pointers in the first 12 minutes, tying the franchise record for most in a single period.
With the win, the Lakers (43-25) leapfrogged the Nuggets (44-26) for third place in the Western Conference standings, splitting the season series 2-2. The victory also secured the postseason tiebreaker over Denver, ensuring home-court advantage if the two teams meet in the playoffs.
Aaron Gordon led the Nuggets with 26 points and 11 rebounds, while Jalen Pickett added 14 points. Michael Porter Jr., Peyton Watson, and Russell Westbrook each contributed 12 points. However, Denver struggled without their two biggest stars, Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, who both missed their second consecutive game due to injuries.
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Doncic set the tone early, helping the Lakers build a 14-2 lead within the first three minutes. He finished the opening quarter shooting 7-of-11 from the floor and 3-of-5 from beyond the arc. Los Angeles widened the gap to 69-41 after a Dalton Knecht three-pointer midway through the second quarter, but Denver responded with an 18-4 run to close the half, trimming the deficit to 73-59.
The Lakers reasserted their dominance in the second half, extending their lead to 94-74 late in the third quarter before carrying a commanding 105-77 advantage into the final period. Despite Denver’s attempts to rally, Los Angeles never let up, sealing a crucial win that could have major playoff implications.
Looking ahead, the Lakers will host the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday in a marquee matchup, while the Nuggets will attempt to bounce back on Friday when they visit the Portland Trail Blazers.
