Lakers have exorcised their Nuggets demons

Luka Doncic scored 31 points and Austin Reaves scored 22 points when the Lakers beat the Nuggets Wednesday night, 120-108. It was the Lakers' second win in 2025 against Denver, after going 1-13 against the Nuggets in the regular season and playoffs combined.

Denver was missing Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, so the Nuggets did have a ready-made excuse for their defeat. But the game — where the Lakers led by 28 points after three quarters — was a big contrast to the teams' matchup on March 14.

In the game, the Lakers were missing four starters: Doncic, LeBron James, Jaxson Hayes and Rui Hachimura. Still, they led with less than a minute to go, eventually falling to a clutch three by Murray with six seconds to go.

While the Nuggets were short-handed Wednesday night, the Lakers were still missing James and Hachimura, and they handled Denver easily. On Feb. 22, with both teams at full strength, the Lakers handled the Nuggets, 123-100. Jokic had 13 rebounds and 10 assists, but the Lakers' defensive scheme limited him to 12 points and only seven shots.

In the 2023 Western Conference Finals, the Nuggets swept the Lakers in four games. Last season, they met in the first round, and the Nuggets won the first three games, before dropping Game 4, then advanced to the second round on another Murray game-winner in Game 5.

The Lakers may have felt like they couldn't get past the Nuggets, especially after Denver blew them out in their first meeting this season. But they're a different team after swapping Anthony Davis for Doncic, and with J.J. Redick improving all the time as their head coach.

Plus, now they have the tiebreaker when it comes to playoff seeding. Since the Lakers are 15-18 on the road and 28-7 at home, that's a huge advantage — especially since the altitude makes Denver one of the tougher road matchups in the NBA.

These teams may well meet again in the playoffs. This time, the Nuggets' mystique may be gone.