Suns 121, Bulls 117
Nets 105, 76ers 103
Lakers 123, Nuggets 100
Jazz 124, Rockets 115
Blazes 141, Hornets 88
DENVER (AP) — Now, that’s what the Los Angeles Lakers had in mind when they pulled off their shocking trade for Luka Doncic earlier this month.
After going 1-2 and averaging 14.7 points in his first three games with LA following his departure from Dallas, the 25-year-old superstar had by far his best game in a Lakers uniform Saturday night in Denver.
Doncic scored 32 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, dished out seven assists and stole four passes while leading the Lakers to a 123-100 wipeout of the Nuggets, who had won nine consecutive games.
“Finally feel like myself a little bit,” Doncic said. “Playing this game, this is what I love. Just finally being myself a little bit, that’s why I was smiling all game.”
So was LeBron James, who chipped in 25 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and three blocks — and several times was on the receiving end of Doncic’s long passes for fastbreak buckets as the Lakers led wire-to-wire against their recent nemesis.
“I am a natural-born wide receiver and he’s a natural-born quarterback,” cracked James.
Doncic said his chemistry with the Lakers, James included, is still budding.
“This is my fourth game,” Doncic said. “Chemistry takes time. You saw today that it’s getting better. Every day, it’s getting better. … Hard, different, but I’m happy to be playing basketball. Every day is going to get better for me. I’m happy to be here. I’m happy for the new journey.”
The duo’s performance in Denver should give the Lakers and their followers a sense that they can make the kind of deep playoff run that eluded them the last two years when the Nuggets bounced them in the first round, winning eight of nine when James was teamed with Anthony Davis.
The Lakers never trailed in winning in Denver for the first time since April 10, 2022. They had lost 13 of their previous 14 against the Nuggets.
Doncic averaged 14.7 points in his first three games with the Lakers. He surpassed that less than 10 minutes in and had 19 points by halftime with the Lakers up 63-54.
Blazers 141, Hornets 88
In Portland, Anfernee Simons hit five 3-pointers and scored 25 points in the largest blowout victory in Portland Trail Blazers history, a 141-88 romp over the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday night.
The 53-point margin topped the franchise record of 50 set in a 129-79 home victory over Cleveland on Nov. 21, 1982.
Toumani Camara added 20 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, a steal and two blocks for the Trail Blazers. Shaedon Sharpe had 20 points off the bench, and Jabari Walker had 20 points and 14 rebounds.
Miles Bridges led the Hornets with 17 points. Nick Smith Jr. had 14 points. Jusuf Nurkic added 11 points, eight rebounds and five assists off the bench.
