🔥 The Denver Nuggets outshined the Los Angeles Lakers with a 114-103 victory in Game 1 of the NBA Western Conference first-round playoffs at Ball Arena in Denver on Saturday. The Nuggets now lead the series 1-0. 🏆
The Lakers tried to pull a page from last year's playbook against the Warriors by stealing the first game on the road. They rolled out a bold defensive strategy, assigning Rui Hachimura to guard the Nuggets' superstar Nikola Jokic. This move aimed to keep Anthony Davis fresh by avoiding direct battles with Jokic, so he could provide strong help defense instead. 🛡️
But things didn't go as planned. Every time Jokic made a move from the high post, the Lakers sent in a defender from the weak side to double-team him. Despite their efforts, Jokic showcased why he's a two-time MVP, dissecting the defense and leading his team to victory. 🎯
The Lakers need to rethink their strategy for Game 2 if they want to even the series. Can they find a way to stop Jokic and turn the tide? Stay tuned! 🚀
Reference(s):
NBA highlights on April 20: Lakers' policy against Nuggets fails
cgtn.com
