NBA

Play-off opener: Champion Denver beats Lakers

Peyton Watson (number 8) of the Denver Nuggets

(Bild: APA/Getty Images via AFP/GETTY IMAGES/MATTHEW STOCKMAN)

Defending champions Denver Nuggets have started the play-offs of the North American basketball league NBA with a victory. On Saturday (local time), the team led by star player Nikola Jokic beat the Los Angeles Lakers 114:103. The Lakers had only qualified for the play-offs in the play-in tournament and go into the "best of seven" series against the runners-up in the main round as underdogs. Four wins are needed to progress.

Led by superstar LeBron James, the Lakers were 60:57 ahead at half-time. After scoring 19 points in the first half, James was only able to add eight points after the break. The Nuggets pulled away decisively with a 13:0 run at the end of the third quarter.

"I think we played pretty well. But you don't have a lot of room for error against Denver, especially at home, because they're the defending champions," said James on the fourth play-off opening defeat of his career. "We know how tough this opponent is and how great they are." Jokic stood out for the Nuggets with 32 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists.

Knicks win
The New York Knicks won their first play-off duel with the Philadelphia 76ers 111-104. The Knicks hit three threes in the last two minutes. Josh Hart, who finished with 22 points and 13 rebounds, netted two of them.

By contrast, the Orlando Magic suffered a clear 83:97 away defeat at the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Magic converted just 32.7 percent of their shots from the field and the visitors never led once.

The Minnesota Timberwolves had no problems with the Phoenix Suns and won 120:95 after losing all three duels with the Suns in the main round. Anthony Edwards scored 18 of his 33 points in the third quarter, in which the Timberwolves pulled away.