LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — There was one thing that Denver didn’t want the Western Conference Finals to be: a track meet.
That’s exactly the kind of series the Lakers had in mind.
Sprints, like the long loping strides to the basket that led to 16 fast break points and 20 points off turnovers. High jumps, like the ones Anthony Davis, Dwight Howard and LeBron James used to slam down lobs for much of the night. Shotput, or something like it, as James and Rajon Rondo heaved passes downstream on the way to a team total 33 assists.
The Nuggets have been the underdog of the NBA bubble with their 3-1 comebacks, but the Lakers are No. 1 for a reason. Behind Davis’ 37 points and 10 rebounds, the Lakers got out to a good start of playing the favorite in a 126-114 blowout of Denver, which will have to come back again to survive.
Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James, from left, Kostas Antetokounmpo, JaVale McGee and Dwight Howard, right, shout at members of the Denver Nuggets on the court during the first half an NBA conference final playoff basketball game Friday, Sept. 18, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard (39) dunks the ball during the second half an NBA conference final playoff basketball game against the Denver Nuggets on Friday, Sept. 18, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks to move past Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets during the third quarter in Game One of the Western Conference Finals during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 18, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis, left, attempts a shot over Denver Nuggets’ Paul Millsap, bottom front, Nikola Jokic, bottom center, and Jamal Murray (27) during the second half an NBA conference final playoff basketball game, Friday, Sept. 18, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
A video board showing virtual fans includes cutouts of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, center left, and the late Kobe Bryant, center right, during the first half an NBA conference final playoff basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets on Friday, Sept. 18, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Denver Nuggets guard Monte Morris (11) and Los Angeles Lakers’ Dwight Howard (39) look on as LeBron James (23) dunks in the first half an NBA conference final playoff basketball game Friday, Sept. 18, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, left, attempts a shot over Los Angeles Lakers’ Danny Green (14) during the first half an NBA conference final playoff basketball game Friday, Sept. 18, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic, left, defends as Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, right, looks to make a pass during the second half an NBA conference final playoff basketball game, Friday, Sept. 18, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Denver Nuggets forward Mason Plumlee (7) dunks the ball over Los Angeles Lakers’ Dwight Howard, bottom left, as Jerami Grant (9) look on during the first half an NBA conference final playoff basketball game Friday, Sept. 18, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard (39) dunks the ball as Denver Nuggets’ Jamal Murray, left front, and Paul Millsap, left rear, look on during the second half an NBA conference final playoff basketball game, Friday, Sept. 18, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Lakers’ Dwight Howard, left, attempts to talk his way into a Denver Nuggets huddle as Mason Plumlee (7), Gary Harris (14), Jerami Grant (9) and others push him out during the first half an NBA conference final playoff basketball game Friday, Sept. 18, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Denver Nuggets forward Paul Millsap (4) takes a shot over Los Angeles Lakers’ Dwight Howard (39) during the first half an NBA conference final playoff basketball game Friday, Sept. 18, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James (23) gestures after an officials call as Kyle Kuzma (0) walks behind in the first half an NBA conference final playoff basketball game against the Denver Nuggets on Friday, Sept. 18, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic (15) and head coach Michael Malone, right, react as referee Courtney Kirkland, center, charges a foul against Jokic during the first half an NBA conference final playoff basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday, Sept. 18, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers dunks against the Denver Nuggets during the second quarter in Game One of the Western Conference Finals during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 18, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic, left, and Los Angeles Lakers’ JaVale McGee, right, lock up while waiting for a rebound during the first half of Game 1 of the NBA basketball Western Conference final Friday, Sept. 18, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James dunks against the Denver Nuggets during the first half an NBA conference final playoff basketball game Friday, Sept. 18, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic, left, and Paul Millsap (4) compete againast Los Angeles Lakers’ Anthony Davis, center, as Davis comes down with a rebound in front of JaVale McGee (7) during the first half an NBA conference final playoff basketball game Friday, Sept. 18, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Denver Nuggets forward Mason Plumlee, left, and Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) compete for control of a rebound during the first half an NBA conference final playoff basketball game Friday, Sept. 18, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) comes down with a rebound in front of Los Angeles Lakers’ JaVale McGee (7) and Danny Green (14) during the first half of Game 1 of the NBA basketball Western conference final Friday, Sept. 18, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James shouts in the direction of an official during the first half an NBA conference final playoff basketball game against the Denver Nuggets on Friday, Sept. 18, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Denver Nuggets guard Gary Harris (14) moves around a pick set by center Nikola Jokic (15) against Los Angeles Lakers guard Danny Green, center, during the first half an NBA conference final playoff basketball game Friday, Sept. 18, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray goes up for a shot as Los Angeles Lakers’ Anthony Davis (3) looks on during the first half an NBA conference final playoff basketball game, Friday, Sept. 18, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers grabs a rebound against the Denver Nuggets during the first quarter in Game One of the Western Conference Finals during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 18, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James instructs his team during an offensive possession in the first half an NBA conference final playoff basketball game against the Denver Nuggets on Friday, Sept. 18, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers moves the ball up court against the Denver Nuggets during the first quarter in Game One of the Western Conference Finals during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 18, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic (15) defends as Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) looks for a shot opportunity during the second half an NBA conference final playoff basketball game, Friday, Sept. 18, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers dunks against the Denver Nuggets during the second quarter in Game One of the Western Conference Finals during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 18, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron Jame makes a pass during the second half an NBA conference final playoff basketball game against the Denver Nuggets on Friday, Sept. 18, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone argues with referee Courtney Kirkland (61) during the first half an NBA conference final playoff basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday, Sept. 18, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis smiles as he stands on the court during the second half an NBA conference final playoff basketball game against the Denver Nuggets on Friday, Sept. 18, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James, from left, Anthony Davis and head coach Frank Vogel, right, lock arms during the playing of the national anthem before an NBA conference final playoff basketball game against the Denver Nuggets on Friday, Sept. 18, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Lakers’ Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (1) calls for a foul against the Denver Nuggets after scoring a basket during the second half an NBA conference final playoff basketball game, Friday, Sept. 18, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis, right, attempts to shoot over Denver Nuggets’ Jamal Murray, bottom center, Nikola Jokic (15) and Jerami Grant (9) during the first half an NBA conference final playoff basketball game Friday, Sept. 18, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Danny Green #14 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots against Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets in Game One of the Western Conference Finals during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 18, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Denver Nuggets’ Michael Porter Jr., left, and Los Angeles Lakers’ Alex Caruso, right, compete for control of a loose ball during the second half an NBA conference final playoff basketball game, Friday, Sept. 18, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Lakers’ Dwight Howard, celebrates late during the second half an NBA conference final playoff basketball game against the Denver Nuggets on Friday, Sept. 18, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets and JaVale McGee #7 of the Los Angeles Lakers tip off in Game One of the Western Conference Finals during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 18, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Referee Tony Brothers (25) walks away as Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic, talks to him after being charged with a foul on a Los Angeles Lakers 3-points basket during the second half an NBA conference final playoff basketball game, Friday, Sept. 18, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets is pressured by Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the first quarter in Game One of the Western Conference Finals during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 18, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots against Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets during the first quarter in Game One of the Western Conference Finals during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 18, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Lakers’ Anthony Davis, left, and Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic (15) compete for control of a rebound during the second half an NBA conference final playoff basketball game, Friday, Sept. 18, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets is pressured by Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the first quarter in Game One of the Western Conference Finals during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 18, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Lakers’ Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, left, and JaVale McGee (7) defend as Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) attempts to make a pass during the first half an NBA conference final playoff basketball game Friday, Sept. 18, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets shoots against Alex Caruso #4 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the first quarter in Game One of the Western Conference Finals during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 18, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Lakers’ Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, left, and JaVale McGee (7) defend as Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) attempts to make a pass during the first half an NBA conference final playoff basketball game Friday, Sept. 18, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Lakers center JaVale McGee (7) blocks a shot-attempt by Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, right, during the first half an NBA conference final playoff basketball game Friday, Sept. 18, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on against the Denver Nuggets during the second quarter in Game One of the Western Conference Finals during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 18, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, center, goes up to shoot between Los Angeles Lakers’ Alex Caruso, left, and Kyle Kuzma (0) during the first half an NBA conference final playoff basketball game Friday, Sept. 18, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Members of the Los Angeles Lakers and the Denver Nuggets line a sideline during the national anthem before Game 1 of the NBA basketball Western Conference final Friday, Sept. 18, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
“We want to be the most physical team on the floor every time we take the floor, regardless of who we’re playing,” Lakers coach Frank Vogel said. “And we have a physical team. We’ve got big, strong guys. But a lot of times teams with big, strong guys don’t have the speed to match it, and we have the ability to do both.”
Davis’ aggression was most pronounced in the third, when he scored 16 of his points thriving in the Lakers’ uptempo style that Denver coach Mike Malone had said just the day before he wished to avoid.
Davis’ All-NBA counterpart Nikola Jokic (21 points) had a few bright moments, but was unable to string together much momentum with foul trouble. Jamal Murray, a lights-out shooter in so many tight games this postseason, was held to 21.
While the Nuggets were able to bottle up James’ scoring (15 points, all in the first half), he was content to pick apart the defense with 12 assists. It seemed possible that James, who had finished a distant second-place to MVP finisher Giannis Antetokounmpo earlier in the day, was motivated by the perceived sleight: 16 out of 101 first-place votes.
Earlier Vogel told the press that a championship mattered most to James, who has won four MVP awards to his three rings. But it seems MVP matters to him, too.
“I never came to this league saying, ‘Be MVP or be a champion,’” he said. “I’ve always said I just want to get better and better every single day and those things will take care of itself, but some things is just out of my hand and some things you can’t control but, it pisses me off.”
It was a night for the old heads on the team: After a turbulent first quarter of trying to contain Jokic, the Lakers subbed in the 34-year-old Howard, who immediately shoved Jokic and proceeded to play a physical game against Denver’s size. After playing just five minutes in the previous series against Houston, Howard burst with energy in a 13-point, two-block and two-steal performance.
Just two days before, he had acknowledged that isolation inside the bubble without the outlet of playing time had been difficult. Howard didn’t want to miss his chance to enforce some of his will on Jokic.
“As soon as I step onto the court, I’m gonna let him know that I’m there,” he said. “We’re staying at same hotel, I might meet him right outside his room, let him know for the rest of the series, I’m gonna be right here, locked onto you. It’s not nothing bad, it’s just the competitive spirit inside of me.”
Rondo had nine assists, putting him at 10th all-time ahead of Michael Jordan in postseason dimes. Perhaps most notably, he contributed zero turnovers on the night. As a team, the Lakers had 33 assists on 44 baskets, with just 11 turnovers.
After losing Game 1 in their previous two series to Portland and Houston and with another six-day layoff from game action, the Lakers made a point to come out swinging Friday. Both the Lakers and the Nuggets were active early, scoring a combined 74 points in the first quarter.
The initial promise of a shootout slowly slid into a free throw shooting contest as the Lakers drew whistle after whistle. In the second quarter alone, the Lakers took 24 free throws (and made only 14). Jokic and Jamal Murray fell prey to the fouls themselves, both getting three apiece by the early third quarter.
By the third quarter, the scoreboard indicated that the Lakers didn’t have much to fear as they held on to a double-digit margin. But given Denver’s penchant for comebacks, the Lakers didn’t want to let up.
“No lead is safe with this team,” Davis said. “Not in a game, not in a series.”
In Game 1, the Lakers didn’t relent. They’ll need three more efforts just like it — a challenge no one has yet met against the Nuggets.
