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LeBron James scored 21 points, Taurean Prince
contributed 18, Anthony Davis had 17 -- all in the first half --
Austin Reaves scored 14 and D'Angelo Russell added 11 for Los
Angeles.
The Lakers scored the first four points of the fourth quarter,
part of a 13-0 run that began at the end of the third, to cut
what was once an 18-point deficit down to three at 87-84. They
had chances to get closer, but Jokic hit a 3-pointer, fed
Caldwell-Pope for an 18-footer and made a jumper to give Denver
an 11-point lead with 7:19 left.
Los Angeles responded to make it 103-96, but Murray drained a
3-pointer, Caldwell-Pope hit another mid-range jumper and Gordon
threw home a dunk to make it 110-96. Los Angeles got back within
11 but a 3-pointer from Porter and a layup by Jokic closed it
out.
The Nuggets came out inspired after receiving their championship
rings and watching the banner being raised to the rafters. They
used a 12-2 run to take a six-point lead 4:02 through the first
quarter and kept building on it.
Caldwell-Pope hit a 3-pointer to make it 27-16 and Reggie
Jackson drained one from deep to give Denver a 14-point lead
heading into the second quarter.
Another Jackson 3-pointer early in the second made it 40-22, but
the Lakers chipped away, scoring the last six points of the
period to cut the deficit to 63-54 at halftime.
Los Angeles got within five to start the second half, but the
Nuggets recovered and took a 16-point lead late in the third
quarter. The Lakers scored the final nine points of the quarter,
and a 3-pointer from Russell made it 87-80 heading into the
fourth.
--Field Level Media
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