Aaron Gordon contributed 29 points and 15 rebounds, while Nikola Jokic recorded 24 points, 15 rebounds, and nine assists as the Denver Nuggets edged closer to the second round with a 112-105 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of their first-round series on Thursday night.

Jamal Murray chipped in with 22 points as the reigning NBA champions, the Nuggets, secured their 11th consecutive win against LeBron James and the Lakers in a commanding fashion.

Michael Porter Jr. also made a significant impact with 20 points for Denver, which seized control in the third quarter and comfortably navigated through the final minutes to claim their fifth consecutive road win over Los Angeles, starting from their sweep of last season’s Western Conference finals.

The Los Angeles Lakers ended the Denver Nuggets’ dominance in this rivalry and prolonged their playoff journey for at least one more game.

As expected, LeBron James led the charge, tallying 30 points, while Anthony Davis contributed 25 points and an impressive 23 rebounds as the Lakers staved off elimination with a 119-108 triumph over Denver in Game 4 of their first-round series on Saturday night.

D’Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves each scored 21 points for the seventh-seeded Lakers, who halted their 11-game losing streak against the reigning NBA champions, securing their first victory over the Nuggets since December 2022.

The series, which had followed distinct patterns and rhythms, finally shifted in favor of the Lakers. Despite the Nuggets’ second-half resurgence led by Nikola Jokic, Los Angeles managed to maintain a double-digit lead for the fourth consecutive game.