Lakers Game Observations: A Statement Win Against the Nuggets

Finally, a 'Luka' game, a great game plan, and JJ's NBA cheat code applied

Photo by Aaron Ontiveroz / Getty Images

Big week in the Western Conference playoff race. The Lakers took down the Nuggets last night, the Mavericks face the Warriors tonight, and then on Tuesday, it’s the game everyone’s waiting for—Luka vs. the Mavericks.

The Lakers made a loud statement with a 123-100 win over Nikola Jokić and the Nuggets, who came in red-hot on a nine-game winning streak. Just another sign that with all the changes and big moves, the battle in the West is going to be unpredictable, chaotic, and a lot of fun.

After a slow start and some early disappointments in his Lakers tenure, Luka Dončić delivered the kind of performance that had LA buzzing, leading the way with 32 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists, 4 steals, and a block in a dominant statement win on the national stage.

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Today’s notes:

1. Luka being Luka = a hub for advantage basketball (🎞️VIDEO)

2. Game of cat and mouse on both ends

3. J.J. Redick's cheat code applied

4. The new QB1 in town (🎞️VIDEO)

5. Fun X&O counters to the Nuggets' aggressive on-ball defense (🎞️VIDEO)

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1-Luka being Luka = a hub for advantage basketball (🎞️VIDEO)

Pre-game, I tweeted that the best way for the Lakers to create advantages and generate good offense in this game was for Luka Dončić to go at Nikola Jokić in pick actions. Mike Malone and the Nuggets are always among the teams that blitz or show two defenders the most against Dončić, which means a lot of 4-on-3, advantage basketball played off that. However, with Dončić's struggles in his first three games coming off a calf injury, the big question was whether he would be able to put enough pressure and fear into the Nuggets and force them into their aggressive on-ball coverages.

Well, as he has many times before on a big stage, Dončić stepped up. From the start, it was clear he was in better rhythm. He opened the game by finding his latest roll-man, Jaxson Hayes, for two easy buckets at the rim.

Post-game, J.J. Redick highlighted how Dončić’s ability to handle Jokić’s 'shocks' (Redick’s term for showing two on the ball) was the key to forcing the Nuggets into early adjustments—leading to even more advantage basketball for the remainder of the game.

2-Game of cat and mouse on both ends

Speaking of advantage basketball, most Dončić vs. Jokić matchups have come down to the same battle: who can be better at exploiting 4-on-3 situations and making more plays.

With 220-pound Jaxson Hayes as the Lakers' only center option, they had no choice but to lean into an aggressive defensive approach against Jokić. They swarmed him with sturdy wings—Rui Hachimura, LeBron James, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Dorian Finney-Smith—trying to limit his touches and doubling him when he caught the ball on the block. On the other end, the Lakers surrounded Dončić with shooting, with Hachimura and Reaves each knocking down four threes, and plenty of playmaking and drive-versus-closeout ability from James and Reaves. That combination allowed them to outexecute the Nuggets despite both teams shooting an identical 16-of-41 from deep.

However the key difference in this game, was execution on the defensive end.

3-J.J. Redick's cheat code applied

After the win in Portland, J.J. Redick revealed he figured out a "cheat code" for winning in the NBA. In his words, there is actually only one cheat code in the NBA, and that is playing hard. I often call that "playing with force" in my observations here on this website, and last night, it was clear that the Lakers were the team that played much harder and with far more force than the Nuggets.

The Lakers were flying all over the court, getting their hands on everything—deflecting passes, jumping into passing lanes, and collectively contesting shots in the paint. Their 24-to-7 edge in stocks (15 steals + 9 blocks) underscored just how active and aggressive they were. Denver’s 22.9 percent turnover rate was the highest for any Lakers opponent this season, a testament to the intensity they brought defensively. Forcing turnovers opened up the Lakers' transition game (see next point), as they outscored Denver 33-9 in fast break points, on their way to their most efficient transition performance of the season, according to Cleaning the Glass.

With Anthony Davis now in Dallas, the Lakers no longer have a traditional, 'I'll clean up the mess on the perimeter' rim protector to erase mistakes. Instead, they have transformed into a high-effort, wing-heavy, switch-heavy unit. In prior games, there were doubts about whether Dončić could fit into this new defensive mentality, but last night, he didn’t just fit in—he elevated it. He finished with four steals and a block, earning praise from Redick for his defensive effort as well. But it wasn't only Dončić. Every Laker who stepped on the floor made multiple effort plays on defense. That collective energy was key to holding Jokić to just 12 points on only 7 field goal attempts, while also forcing him into 6 turnovers.

4-The new QB1 in town (🎞️VIDEO)