Denver wins in the 2023-24 NBA opening game
Jokic performs with a triple-double from the start The lingering
feeling of victory continues at the pre-game ring presentation ceremony
Phoenix also reports its first win
Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets), wearing the National Basketball Association (NBA) championship ring, made ‘King’ LeBron James (LA Lakers) cry from the first game of the new season. This is the constant presence of Jokic, who lost all four games to James in the NBA Western Conference finals last season and advanced to the finals (championship game), winning Denver’s first championship and receiving the honor of the finals’ Most Valuable Player (MVP).
Defending champion Denver defeated the Lakers 119-107 in the opening game of the 2023-24 NBA season held at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado, USA on the 25th굿모닝토토. Jokic achieved a triple-double in the first game with 29 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists, and Jamal Murray, another key player in the championship, also contributed with 21 points and 6 assists.
In addition, all of the Best 5 players, including Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (20 points), scored in double digits. The Lakers were unable to prevent defeat despite the efforts of James (21 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists) and Anthony Davis (17 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists), who are playing in their 21st season.
The Denver players, who beat the Miami Heat in the 2022-23 season finals and reached the top, received championship rings before the start of the game and enjoyed the joy of winning once again. Denver gave up points to James, Christian Wood, and Cam Reddish in the early fourth quarter, trailing to 92-89. However, Jokic stepped up to solve each crisis. After hitting a 3-pointer to make it 94-90, he helped Caldwell-Pope score 2 points. Also, in a situation where the score was 99-90, he succeeded in a 2-point shot, effectively dividing the game. Jokic said after the game, “We used the emotion from the pre-game ring presentation ceremony to take an 18-point lead in the first half, and when the Lakers trailed by 3 points in the fourth quarter, we were able to hold on,” adding, “We dominated the entire game.” revealed.
James, who became the league’s oldest player, played 29 minutes, less than last season’s average of 35.5 minutes, but proved his health. “I always want to be on the court,” he emphasized, “especially when I have a chance to win the game or when I feel like I can make an impact.” Regarding the management of playing time, he said, “I am not surprised or upset,” and added, “I think there is a system in place and I will follow it.”
The Phoenix Suns reported their first win, defeating the Golden State Warriors 108-104 in an away game held at the Chase Center in San Francisco, California. Devin Booker played with 32 points, 8 assists, and 6 rebounds, including a crucial assist at the end of the game, and Kevin Durant, who played for Golden State during the 2018-19 season, recorded a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds.
Stephen Curry, Golden State’s star and the NBA’s best shooter, scored 27 points, but it was not enough to turn the game around.
Meanwhile, on the 26th, the day after the opening of the NBA, Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs), a ‘monster rookie’ with the greatest talent since James, will make his official debut against the Dallas Mavericks. Wembanyama, who is 224cm tall, was selected by the San Antonio Spurs as the first overall pick in the rookie draft. He participated in four exhibition games and averaged 19.3 points and 4.8 rebounds.