Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick praised his team’s execution and intensity after their dominant 123-100 win over the Denver Nuggets on Saturday night.
“I thought our guys’ conviction to execute the game plan and stick with that game plan was excellent,” Redick said postgame. “I envision our guys playing hard, they played harder than I could have envisioned.”
Luka Doncic led Los Angeles (34-21) with 32 points, guiding his team to its first victory in Denver since April 2022. The win snapped the Nuggets’ nine-game winning streak and showcased the Lakers’ defensive discipline.
Redick revealed that he and his staff dedicated extensive preparation to this matchup. “I pretty much haven’t slept since we walked off the court in Portland,” he said. “I just spent a lot of time on the game, our staff spent a lot of time on this game.”
LeBron James contributed 25 points, while Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura combined for 44. Hachimura exited early in the fourth quarter with a left-side injury, but the Lakers maintained control with a 12-2 run to put the game away.
Doncic, who had struggled in his first three games with Los Angeles, set the tone early with 19 first-half points. His performance impressed Redick, particularly his command of the offense.
“He was great, he controlled the game when he had the ball in his hands, made some great decisions,” Redick said. “It was a top-notch defensive game from him.”
Los Angeles shot 50% from the field and 39% from three-point range, executing on both ends. Denver, meanwhile, struggled against the Lakers’ physicality, with Nikola Jokic managing only 12 points on 2-for-7 shooting. He added 13 rebounds and 10 assists but committed six turnovers.
Aaron Gordon led the Nuggets with 24 points, while Jamal Murray added 19, but Denver failed to match the Lakers’ energy. The Nuggets briefly cut the deficit in the third quarter, but Los Angeles responded with a 10-0 run highlighted by a James dunk and a Doncic three-pointer.
Redick emphasized the importance of sustaining this level of play. “They battled tonight, and those are the two things that stood out,” he said.
The Lakers now return home for a six-game homestand, starting Tuesday against the Mavericks in Doncic’s first game against his former team since being traded for Anthony Davis.
