After the first, Nikola Jokic let out an emphatic cry directed toward the rafters and the fresh championship banner hanging there. Only one quarter and one 3-point attempt into Denver’s title defense, the stoic Joker’s emotions had reached an unexpected high.
Yeah, this game mattered to the Nuggets.
By the time Jokic made his third 3-pointer close to two hours later, the tension in Ball Arena felt not dissimilar to the atmosphere here during the Western Conference Finals in May. But Jokic’s reaction this time was more expressionless, more business-as-usual. He had come to save the Nuggets again, leading the way to a 119-107 opening-night win Tuesday over Los Angeles.
“I think we controlled the game the whole time,” Jokic said. “At the end, we kind of lost it a little bit.”
Jokic finished with 29 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists, dominating the first half as a post scorer then salvaging Denver’s ring night and his own drought with fourth-quarter heroics. That 3-pointer, for a 97-90 lead to force a Darvin Ham timeout with 8:15 remaining, was the turning point. When Jokic had checked out late in the third quarter, the Lakers were four points into an eventual 13-0 run to trim Denver’s lead to 87-84.
Michael Malone, who never allowed a second to pass without Jokic or Jamal Murray on the floor Tuesday night, gestured for his two-time MVP to get to the scorer’s table two minutes into the fourth quarter — after a disaster in the backcourt allowed the Lakers to close within four again. It was 94-90 when Jokic entered, in the middle of a 1-for-8 shooting stretch since his 8-for-10 start to the night.
“Probably about a minute ahead of schedule,” Malone said of the substitution. “He’s my security blanket. I’m a very insecure person. So when I start to feel that way, I get Nikola out there and I feel better about myself.”
Jokic drained the three on Denver’s next possession. He scored or assisted on each of the Nuggets’ next 14 points. Los Angeles never threatened again.
On a night when the defending champs never trailed after the first five minutes, the four starters who were able to play this preseason all showed out. Michael Porter Jr., back from a sprained ankle, struggled to find a rhythm (2 for 9 from 3) but had 12 rebounds. Aaron Gordon played a complete game, amassing 15 points, seven rebounds and six assists. He climbed within an inch of the banner to slam an errant lob with his left hand.
Murray and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope combined for 41 points on 25 shot attempts.
“We could have built on the lead,” Murray said. “Especially in the first half, we could have built on it. But we just kind of let them get out in transition. LeBron (James), coast to coast. Foul calls, rebounds. … We’ve gotta eliminate those.”
The first half was a telling glimpse into Malone’s mindset regarding his new-look bench. The first two to check in were Reggie Jackson then Christian Braun, beginning to form a season-opening second unit rounded out by Peyton Watson, Zeke Nnaji and Murray. Experience is more valuable to Malone than the 16 carats of gems in his new ring, so the rookies weren’t part of his nine-man lineup — though Malone admitted postgame that he wished he had played Julian Strawther.
The second unit handled Los Angeles at first, building an 18-point cushion in the second quarter. Jackson took particular initiative. He finished the half with eight points, three assists, three rebounds and the team’s best plus-minus. At one point, he sent James tumbling to the hardwood with a rip-through in the corner, then he drained the three.
A playoff-caliber crowd seemed to revel in James’ lesser moments. His own corner 3-point attempt thudded off the side of the backboard during the first quarter. He was swatted by help-swooping Braun in the second.
Joker vs. Anthony Davis was the key battle of the night, though. They struggled to guard each other in the first half after each picking up early fouls, but Jokic held David scoreless after halftime.
“I got a little bit more help (defense),” Jokic said. “I think A.D. is a really talented player, really skilled player. … He can play in the pocket. He can play off the dribble. He can post up. He is a really multi-talented person.”
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