Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Nikola Jokić and Anthony Davis’ duel ends with a Nuggets win in Game 1

The Lakers’ defense looked raggedy from the jump. Nothing in Nikola Jokić’s way could stop him as he nailed jump shots, broke inside the lane for layups, and scored putbacks won off 50-50 balls.

In the first quarter, he retrieved 12 rebounds, his most ever in an interval, yet six were offensive, and converted four of six shots. Anthony Davis stayed on his hip, forcing two misses- one on a retry layup and the other on a drive from the top of the key. But the Joker scored twice on him in the first quarter and would do so with ease as the game matured.

Yet, early, the Nuggets raced out to a 37-25 lead. Aaron Gordon and Jamal Murray recorded eight of the host’s points on the break as LA failed to put pressure on the ball. Jokić’s sleight of hand produced five dimes before his first break at 43 seconds left in the frame.

The second quarter turned into a duel of giants between Davis and Jokić. AD dropped five buckets- a turnaround hook, a putback jam, two cutting layups, and a pull-up jumper at the elbow with the Big Tipper defending him. Jokić countered by beating Davis off the dribble from the wing to the cup and dusting him in the post as he sliced into the paint for a dunk.

At halftime, the Nuggets led 72-54. Jokić had 19 on his scorecard, Murray logged 17, and Michael Porter Jr. helped with 10. Bruce Brown contributed all of Denver’s 14 bench points on five of nine field goals.

Through 24 minutes, Denver had recovered 36 rebounds to Los Angeles’ 13. Thirteen were also on the offensive side for the Nuggets, which turned into 16 second chance points. Even with hosts registering two more turnovers, their work on the glass churned out seven additional field goal attempts over LA.

In the third period, Davis was immaculate from the field and didn’t sit a moment. Three of his five baskets were scored with the Joker defending an elbow jumper or two straight paint hooks. His partner LeBron James got his licks in, too, spinning past Porter and attacking Gordon in transition.

Although, their old cohort Kentavious Caldwell Pope, now a Nugget, carbonized his former pals. He hit a jumper against drop coverage, converted a right-wing triple when the Lakers inanely doubled the Joker in the post while Davis was on him and hit another trifecta behind a flare screen on the left side. Kenny the Pope matched Jokić with 12 points in the third quarter.

The Cookie Monster (Jokić) also had an unsullied stat line in the period, going five of five from the floor, with five more dimes and three boards. As LA cut its deficit to 11 points with six seconds left in the frame, the Joker dribbled up court and buried a stepback slingshot from 28 feet out over Davis. AD smiled as Jokić looked back and shrugged.

Murray scored the first six points for the Nuggets in the fourth quarter with jump shots in front of drop coverage. The Lakers’ defense didn’t show much resistance in the last gap, but it is where the hosts recorded its lowest field goal percentage. Still, the Nuggets tallied 26 additional points on half of its attempts. But the squad was dull on defense.

Denver’s worst habit was over-helping and leaving shooters behind the 3-point line open. When Rui Hachimura caught the rock in the post, guarded by Murray, Christian Braun came down from the top while Brown was already the low man in position to help. The ball swung to Austin Reaves on the right wing for three points. The damage Hachimura had imposed so far off the bench had rattled Denver’s senses.

Then, Murray decided to double James up top, letting Reaves waltz over to the left side. James instantly recognized the breakdown, dished the ball, and Hillbilly Kobe cut LA’s deficit to three points.

With over two minutes left, Denver was up six points. Again, James initiated offense through a screen at the key, and foolishly Murray blitzed once more. This allowed Reaves to comfortably catch-and-fire from the wing and cut the Nuggets’ lead in half.

James went for the tie, hoisting away from the key, but missed. Jokić drove into the paint on the next possession but was fouled and took a trip to the line, making two. While the Lakers were on life support, Murray poked the ball free from James’ grasp and Denver recovered it.

The Nuggets won Game 1 132-126. Jokić finished with 34 points, 21 rebounds and 14 dimes. On the other side, Davis had 40 points and 10 boards.

At the postgame presser, coach Mike Malone said his team’s defense needs to improve.

“Our defense has to be a hell of a lot better,” Malone said. “They shot 66% in that second half, and they didn’t feel us and they scored too [easily]… I’d much rather clean things up after a win in the Western Conference Finals than a loss. I will take it but [there is] much work to do.”

When asked about Hachimura’s impact when the Lakers went big, Jokić said, “ I had a couple of turnovers and missed shots. It doesn’t surprise us, but I think we are going to figure it out…”