Luka Doncic called the Los Angeles Lakers’ dominant victory over the Denver Nuggets a confidence booster after leading his new team to a 123-100 win on Saturday night.
“I don’t remember when was the last time I won here,” Doncic said postgame. “It’s very tough to play here against that team. So just to win like that, it’s an amazing win for us and gives me a lot of confidence moving forward.”
Doncic delivered his best performance since joining the Lakers, scoring 32 points as Los Angeles (34-21) snapped Denver’s nine-game winning streak. The win also marked the Lakers’ first victory at Ball Arena since April 2022.
LeBron James added 25 points, while Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura combined for 44 before Hachimura exited with a left-side injury early in the fourth quarter. Despite his absence, the Lakers closed the game strong with a decisive 12-2 run.
Doncic, who struggled in his first three games with Los Angeles, surpassed his previous scoring averages in the opening quarter alone. He had 19 points by halftime and remained aggressive throughout.
“Our goal is to win a championship. That’s our only goal, and I think we have the team for that,” Doncic said. “Obviously, the chemistry with me and the guys is going to take a little time still, but like you saw today, I think it’s getting better and better.”
Los Angeles never trailed, controlling the game from start to finish while shooting 50% from the field and 39% from three-point range.
Nikola Jokic struggled against the Lakers’ defense, finishing with 12 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists but committing six turnovers and shooting just 2-for-7. Aaron Gordon led Denver with 24 points, while Jamal Murray added 19, but their efforts weren’t enough.
Doncic credited Los Angeles’ physicality and defensive energy as keys to the win. “I think our defensive effort was there from the beginning,” he said. “We were the more physical team, and that’s what we got to do every night.”
The Lakers now return home for a six-game homestand, beginning Tuesday against the Mavericks in Doncic’s highly anticipated first meeting with his former team.
