The defending champions of the National Basketball League (NBA), the Denver Nuggets, held firm on their homecourt on ring night in front of their fans as they defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 119-107 on the opening night of the 2023–24 season on Tuesday.
Two-time MVP Nikola Jokic got back to his mesmerizing ways with a triple-double performance at the Ball Arena. The towering Serb finished the game with 29 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists in 36 minutes of action.
Nuggets point guard Jamal Murray scored 21 points and dished out six dimes, while former Lakers man Kentavious Caldwell-Pope flamed his old teammates with a 20-point performance, shooting 8-of-12 from the field and 2-of-3 from the 3-point line.
Took one (1) game to get our first win pic.twitter.com/5awIPfcJRV
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) October 25, 2023
Michael Porter Jr. scored 12 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for his first double-double of the season, while Aaron Gordon did everything with 15 points, seven rebounds, and five assists to ensure that all Nuggets starters ended up in double figures.
LeBron James kicked off year 21 with 21 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists in 29 minutes; Taurean Prince scored 18 points and shot four 3s; and Anthony Davis, who played 34 minutes, finished with 17 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists as the Lakers fell to Denver for the fifth straight, dating back to last season’s Western Conference Final, which the latter won 4-0.
Game Won.#ComingInHot pic.twitter.com/MItBCnPX10
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) October 25, 2023
At Chase Center in San Francisco, the Golden State Warriors did not get off to the best start as they let their third quarter lead slip off and fell 108-104 to the Phoenix Suns, who were without Bradley Beal, the last member of their offensive trinity.
Steph Curry got in foul trouble in the fourth quarter and could only play 31 minutes, but he finished with 27 points, 5 rebounds, and shot four 3s. Klay Thompson added 15 points and 7 rebounds, while Chris Paul scored 14 points, dished out 9 assists, and grabbed 6 boards against his former team.
Devin Booker led all scorers with 32 points, along with 8 assists and 6 rebounds. Former Warrior Kevin Durant had an 18-point and 11-rebound double-double. Nigeria’s Josh Okogie had 17 points and 5 rebounds, while the big man, Jusuf Nurkic, finished with 14 points and 14 rebounds.
