Nuggets’ Dominance Of Lakers Becoming An NBA Slam Dunk

You can’t draw it up much better for the Denver Nuggets. Fresh off a disappointing loss to Dallas, they hop on a plane, land in L.A., and dismantle the Lakers in front of a national audience.

It’s not just a win — it’s another early-season statement. And it’s also kind of another reminder that these aren’t the Lakers of Showtime or the LeBron James-led dominance of a few years back. This was a humbled Lakers squad, held to a mere afterthought by the Nuggets’ relentless attack.

Nikola Jokic? He did Nikola Jokic things — smooth, methodical, and always a step ahead. But this wasn’t just about the stars.

Oh, and did I mention the historical nugget? With this win, Michael Malone becomes the Nuggets’ all-time leader in coaching victories. And fittingly, it comes at the expense of the Lakers, a team Malone seems to take particular joy in beating. It’s a moment for the franchise, and Nuggets fans should soak it all in.

First Half: A Battle, Then a Blunder

The Nuggets came out steady, matching the Lakers shot for shot early. Austin Reaves did what he could for L.A., finding the cracks in Denver’s defense, while Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Christian Braun kept Denver close.

But turnovers crept in — sloppy play that let the Lakers build a lead midway through the second quarter. James started cooking, and Denver’s bench looked lost. It took Jokic re-entering the game to calm the waters, but even with his heroics, the Nuggets found themselves trailing at halftime, 63-57.

Second Half: Jokic, Porter Jr. Take Over

Something clicked during the break. Michael Porter Jr. came out firing, sparking an 8-0 Nuggets run that flipped the game’s tone entirely. His energy, combined with Jokic’s unmatched playmaking, overwhelmed the Lakers.

LeBron and Anthony Davis? Ice cold. That’s a bad recipe for a Lakers team already leaning heavily on their stars. Sure, Reaves and rookie Dalton Knecht tried to keep things respectable, but they were no match for Denver’s surge.

By the end of the third, Denver was up 94-78, and it wasn’t even that close. Porter’s scoring punch and Jokic’s steady brilliance had turned this into a laugher.

Fourth Quarter: Malone Makes History

Murray’s return to start the fourth was the icing on the cake. His lob to DeAndre Jordan for a thunderous dunk sent a clear message: this one’s over.

LeBron tried to make a push, but the Nuggets’ depth — and Jokic’s presence — snuffed out any hope of a comeback. By the time Malone emptied the bench with three minutes to go, the only question left was: Who’s your daddy, L.A.?

Porter Steps Up Again

Porter Jr. has been nothing short of critical for Denver lately. With Aaron Gordon sidelined and Murray slumping early in the season, Porter has been a stabilizing force. His 24-point, 11-rebound night was another in a string of strong performances, and he’s now hit 17 or more points in 10 of his last 11 games.

In the second half, when the Nuggets needed a spark, Porter delivered. It’s that type of consistency that’s making a real difference for this team.

Westbrook Breathes Life Into the Bench

Russell Westbrook might not have gotten the warmest reception from Lakers fans, but he didn’t seem to mind. Sure, there were a few turnovers and ill-advised threes early. But Westbrook did what he does best: inject energy and pace into the game.

His hustle plays, steals, and relentless push in transition kept Denver’s second unit afloat. And when the Lakers started faltering late, Westbrook threw down a thunderous putback dunk that served as the exclamation point.

He’s not perfect, but Westbrook’s been a godsend for this Nuggets bench. Nights like this prove why.