DEFENSIVE DENVER OUTLAST LAKERS

Nuggets limit LA to I8 points in 3rd quarter, dominate offensive rebounds to take Game

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The defending champions Denver Nuggets, powered by 32 points from Nikola Jokic and a "mindset change", shook off a slow start to beat LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers 114-103 in Game 1 of their National Basketball Association (NBA) first-round series on April 20.

The Nuggets, who swept the Lakers in four games in the Western Conference Finals on the way to their first title last season, continued their dominance of star-studded Los Angeles, who had dropped all three regular-season meetings.

The game was the finale of the first day of the play-offs, which saw the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Phoenix Suns 120-95, the New York Knicks fend off the Philadelphia 76ers 111-104, and the Cleveland Cavaliers overcome the Orlando Magic 97-83.

In Denver, Jokic added 12 rebounds and seven assists. Jamal Murray had 22 points with 10 assists and Michael Porter Jr scored 19 for the Nuggets, who used a 13-0 scoring run to take charge in the third quarter. They limited the Lakers to 18 points that period.