Los Angeles Lakers Celebrate Major Victory Over Denver Nuggets With Luka Dončić's Spectacular Debut
After enduring eight consecutive losses to the Denver Nuggets, the Los Angeles Lakers finally broke through with a 123-100 victory on February 22, 2025, at Ball Arena. The game marked the return of star player Luka Dončić, who had missed the previous match due to injury.
The Lakers came out strong, quickly establishing control with early scores. Rui Hachimura's layup, followed by Dončić's pinpoint pass, set the stage for LeBron James’ thunderous dunk, allowing the Lakers to take the lead against the Nuggets, who were riding a nine-game winning streak. Despite struggling with his shooting since joining the Lakers, averaging just 14.7 points per game, Dončić was electrifying this night, scoring 16 points alone in the first quarter, including two deep three-pointers, ending the first quarter with the Lakers leading 38-32.
Continuing their momentum, the Lakers maintained their edge through the second quarter, aided by Reaves' assists leading to consecutive scores from James. Although the Nuggets rallied, powered by Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray, the Lakers responded with Hachimura's slam dunk, another alley-oop from Dončić to James, and another three-pointer from Dončić, closing the half at 63-54.
After halftime, the Nuggets attempted to rally with an 8-0 run, narrowing the gap to just one point. Yet, the Lakers found their footing once more as James dunked, and Hachimura caught fire with two quick three-pointers, propelling the Lakers’ lead back to double digits. By the end of the third quarter, the Lakers were up 96-87.
Going strong, the Lakers maximized their lead to 17 points early in the fourth quarter, even when Hachimura briefly left the court due to injury. With contributions from James, who scored with impressive individual efforts, newly acquired Gabe Vincent, and Jordan Goodwin, the team’s chemistry was evident. Dončić continued to shine, sealing the game with effective plays.
The night culminated with Dončić's stunning performance; he recorded 32 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists, and 4 steals. LeBron chimed in with 25 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists, and Reaves scored 23 points, showcasing the Lakers' fiery offensive output. Hachimura also pitched in 21 points, helping the Lakers clinch their first win over the Nuggets since April 2022.
Post-game, Coach JJ Redick praised Dončić’s commitment to excel on the court. "Tonight, we expected him to have a 'blackout' moment and dominate the game. Luka is a competitor," said Redick.
The victory not only halted the Lakers' losing streak against the Nuggets but also improved their overall season record to 34 wins and 21 losses, with fans eagerly anticipating their next matchup against the Dallas Mavericks, Dončić's former team, on February 25.