November 24th 2024.
After a tough loss in the NBA Cup against the Denver Nuggets, the Los Angeles Lakers were looking for a rebound on Saturday. However, the Nuggets had other plans as they dominated the second half and secured a 127-102 victory over the Lakers, splitting their weekend back-to-back games. It seems like the Nuggets have been on fire against the Lakers lately, winning 13 of their last 14 matchups, including playoffs. They will have a quick turnaround as they face the New York Knicks at home on Monday.
One of the key players in the Nuggets' win was Michael Porter Jr. who once again showed his prowess on the court. At halftime, the Nuggets were trailing 63-57 and needed a spark from their starting lineup. Porter Jr. was up for the challenge as he led the team to a game-changing 27-6 run, almost resulting in a comeback win against the Mavericks on Friday. He continued his impressive performance on Saturday, scoring 13 points, grabbing six rebounds, and dishing out two assists in the third quarter alone. He ended the night with 24 points, 11 rebounds, and four assists on 10-of-15 shooting. What's even more impressive is that Porter Jr. has been averaging a career-high in assists this season without compromising his scoring ability. He has been making smart plays and even recorded a beautiful assist to Jamal Murray for a corner three on Saturday.
While the Nuggets celebrated their win, their head coach Michael Malone achieved a major milestone by becoming the winningest coach in Nuggets history with 433 regular-season wins. He surpassed Doug Moe and did it in 56 fewer games, adding to the significance of the record. It was only fitting that he achieved this feat against the Lakers, a team that the Nuggets have dominated during Malone's tenure. Another milestone that was almost achieved on Saturday was Nikola Jokic tying Magic Johnson's record of 136 career triple-doubles. Jokic had another impressive game with 34 points, 13 rebounds, eight assists, and two steals. He also added to his league-leading 3-point percentage, shooting 3-for-7 from beyond the arc. Although he missed a few shots, including an 80-foot tip-in attempt at the third-quarter buzzer, Jokic is shooting 56.3% from the outside this season. Once he records his next triple-double, he will tie Johnson for the third-most in NBA history.
On the other hand, the Lakers' star point guard Russell Westbrook had a strong revenge game against his former team. He scored 14 points, grabbed seven rebounds, and dished out 11 assists, showcasing his versatility on the court. While Westbrook had a great night, the Nuggets' point guard Jamal Murray continued to struggle with his shooting, only scoring 14 points and missing four out of six free-throw attempts. However, Murray has been contributing in other areas such as rebounding and playmaking, which has helped the Nuggets in their recent games. Ultimately, the Lakers were unable to contain the Nuggets, and Westbrook's windmill arms and celebratory shouts couldn't prevent their loss.
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