BREAKING NEWS: Luka Doncic’s 32-point night helps Lakers finally win in Denver

The Lakers ended the Nuggets’ nine-game winning streak and also snapped an eight-game skid at Ball Arena. The last time L.A. beat the Nuggets in a regular-season contest on Denver’s home floor was April 10, 2022.

 

Lakers coach JJ Redick challenged Doncic before the game to get so wrapped up in the competition that he has a “blackout episode” where he starts yelling indiscriminately in the heat of battle.

 

That happened several times Saturday.

 

“He was super dialed in,” LeBron James said of Doncic. “He was very locked in on what he wanted to do out here on the floor tonight. Once he started hitting those step-back 3s and got to yelling and barking, either at the fans or at us, or himself.”

 

Doncic had averaged 14.7 points on 35.6% shooting (20.8% from 3) through his first three games with the Lakers while slowly integrating into the lineup after a left calf injury had kept him sidelined since Christmas with the Dallas Mavericks.

 

Saturday night, Doncic led L.A. in shot attempts, going 10-for-22 from the field, and was tied for the lead in assists.

 

James had 25 points on 11- for-19 shooting with nine rebounds, five assists and three blocks, and fellow starters Austin Reaves (23 points, seven assists) and Ruin Hachimura (21 points, four assists) also topped the 20-point plateau.

 

Redick said that Doncic will see more touches.