The champions Denver Nuggets entered Saturday winning the NBA playoff, beating the Los Angeles Lakers 114-103 at home, in the first game of the inaugural round.
The Californian team still reached the break ahead, 60-57, after a triple from very long distance by LeBron James almost over the ‘horn’, but the Colorado team went on to win in the third period (32-18).
Serbian Nikola Jokic, scorer of 32 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists, led the hosts, followed by Jamal Murray, with 22 points, 10 assists and six rebounds, Michael Porter Jr., with 19 points and eight rebounds, and Aaron Gordon , with 12 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists.
For their part, Anthony Davis, with 32 points, 14 rebounds and five assists, and LeBron James, with 27 points, eight assists and six rebounds, were the best of the outsiders.
On the first day of the playoff in which the home teams won all four games, the highlight, also in the West, was the Minnesota Timberwolves, who clearly beat the Phoenix Suns by 25 points (120-95).
Anthony Edwards, with 33 points, nine rebounds and six assists, was the star for the hosts, while Kevin Durant led the visitors, with 31 points and seven rebounds.
In the East, the New York Knicks beat the Philadelphia 76ers 111-104, with 22 points from Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart and 21 from substitute Miles McBride, against 33 from Tyrese Maxey and 29 from Joel Embiid.
In Cleveland, the hosts, the Cavaliers, also prevailed, beating the Orlando Magic 97-83, led by 30 points from Donovan Mitchell.
The NBA playoff continues today, with the start of the other four qualifiers, including the reception of Neemias Queta’s Boston Celtics to the Miami Heat.