Nuggets Celebrate Ring Night with Commanding Win over Lakers
Fresh off a season where Nikola Jokić led the Denver Nuggets to their first championship in franchise history, the Nuggets faced off against the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night to kick off the NBA’s 78th season.
Less than five months ago, the Nuggets swept the same Lakers team in the Western Conference Finals before beating the Miami Heat in five games to be crowned NBA Champions. Prior to tip-off, the Nuggets received their championship rings with the same Lakers team watching.
Jokić clocked out with a few minutes left in the game when the Nuggets were firmly in control. He finished with 29 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists in a 119–107 victory. The rest of the Nuggets starting five from the championship team returned to Denver this season and had great games as well.
The Lakers, despite LeBron James’ 21 points and eight rebounds in his 21st year in the NBA, had no answers for Jokić and were down double-digits for most of the game. Center forward Anthony Davis put up 17 points and eight rebounds for the Lakers in the first half, but shot 0–6 in the second half.
The Nuggets will travel to Memphis, TN to take on the Grizzlies on Friday and the Lakers will play the Kings in Sacramento, CA, on Sunday.
World Series Preview: Texas Rangers Face off Against the Arizona Diamondbacks
After two thrilling seven-game series in the championship round, the Rangers and Diamondbacks will meet Friday night. The Rangers, seeking their first-ever World Series win, will look to carry the momentum from their American League Championship Series against the Astros. After falling behind 3–2 in the series, the Rangers, led by Adolis García’s three home runs, won the next two games on the road. García took home ALCS MVP honors.
The Diamondbacks are looking to win their second World Series in franchise history. Led by a strong veteran pitching staff and young batters at the top of the order, this year’s Diamondbacks defeated the Philadelphia Phillies in seven games to win the National League Championship Series. Second baseman Ketel Marte, the NLCS MVP, set the record for the longest hitting streak to begin a postseason career: 16 games and counting. Outfielder Corbin Carrol, who is likely to win the Rookie of the Year Award, went 3–4 in game seven with two key RBIs.
Game one of the World Series starts Friday night with ace Zac Gallen taking the mound for the Diamondbacks and pitching for the Rangers.
Las Vegas Aces Repeat as Champions
The Aces recently celebrated their second straight championship after defeating the New York Liberty in four games, one year removed from defeating the Connecticut Sun. They are the first team in 21 years to win back-to-back championships.
Two-time MVP A’ja Wilson averaged 23.8 points, 11.8 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game during her team’’s postseason run. The dynamic guard duo of all-stars Kelsey Plum and Chelsea Gray averaged 18.3 points, 3.8 assists, and 15.6 points, 6.8 assists per game, respectively.
Next season the Aces aim to be the second three-peat champions in league history, chasing the Houston Comets, who won four years in a row from 1997-2000.
“We coming back,” Wilson, who took home finals MVP honors, said. “We’re going to do this s—t again.”
