THE reigning NBA champions, the Denver Nuggets, scored their first win on opening night against their purple and gold rivals, the Los Angeles Lakers, 119-107, at the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado.
Denver began the 2023-2024 season with a statement win, implying that they will once again be one of the teams to beat on a night that saw the Denver Nuggets get their championship rings and raise their first banner in franchise history.
Nikola Jokic began his season with an MVP-type performance, recording his first triple-double with 29 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists. While his teammate, Jamal Murray, scored 21 points and had six assists to earn the victory.
The Nuggets appeared to have never left the court, finishing the first quarter with a 14-point advantage over the remade Los Angeles Lakers, 34-20. The purple and gold were able to narrow the margin to three points in the second half, 92-89.
The Nuggets once again displayed their championship pedigree by pulling away whenever the Lakers appeared to be within striking distance, just when the Lakers felt they had everything under control.
In addition to Jokic and Murray, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 20 points. Aaron Gordon followed with 15 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists.
On a 29-minute stint, LeBron James led the Los Angeles Lakers with 21 points, eight rebounds, and five assists. Anthony Davis, who had 17 points in the first half, went ice cold in the second.
Taurean Prince, the Lakers’ offseason acquisition, scored 18 points while shooting well from three-point range. Austin Reaves, a fan favorite, contributed 14 points, 8 rebounds, and four assists.
Phoenix Suns vs. Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors were unable to protect their home stand as they were defeated by the Phoenix Suns, 108-104, in the second game of the NBA’s opening night at Chase Center.
Devin Booker was unstoppable for the Golden State Warriors, scoring 32 points, grabbing six rebounds, and dishing out eight assists. Kevin Durant, the slender reaper, followed up with a double-double of 18 points, 10 rebounds, and three assists.
Both sides are trading buckets and highlights right away in the first few minutes. The Suns led 24-12 after their early runs, but the Warriors responded by scoring 23-6 to take a 35-30 lead into the second quarter.
The Warriors, on the other hand, had a terrible shooting night, missing open looks after open looks. Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 27 points despite shooting 4-for-14 from outside the arc.
Along with him, Klay Thompson and Andrew Wiggins were unable to pick up the slack in the shooting department, completing a combined 10 for 30 from the field. Despite this, Thompson finished with 15 points and seven rebounds, while Wiggins had ten.
Both sides were without the services of their major players. Draymond Green, the Warriors’ third star, was out with a sprained left ankle. Bradley Beal, the Suns’ shooting guard, was unable to make his debut due to lower back soreness.
While several players shined on opening night, it is clear that the majority of players from both games are still experiencing first-game jitters and shaky starts. Despite this, fans may have caught a peek of what is to come in this intriguing NBA season.
