Denver Nuggets beat Miami Heat in NBA Finals rematch to go top of Western Conference, LeBron James stars in Lakers loss
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Updated 14/03/2024 at 10:32 GMT
Defending champions the Denver Nuggets look on course for the number one seeding in the Western Conference after beating Miami Heat 100-88 in a rematch of the NBA Finals. Michael Porter Jr scored 25 points to help move the title holders to the top of the standings. Elsewhere, a late surge from LeBron James was not enough for the Los Angeles Lakers to avoid defeat against the Sacramento Kings.
Michael Porter Jr scored 25 points to help the Denver Nuggets go top of the NBA's Western Conference
Image credit: Eurosport
Michael Porter Jr scored 25 points as the Denver Nuggets moved to the top of the Western Conference with a 100-88 win over the Miami Heat - a rematch of last season’s NBA Finals.
The defending champions look on course to be top seeds for the post season, and they showed they remain the team to beat as they saw off the runners-up from 2023.
It has taken some time for the Nuggets to go top of the standings, having spent the previous four months looking up at their rivals, but the victory moves them above the Oklahoma City Thunder and clear of third place Minnesota Timberwolves.
“If we can get the (No. 1 seed), sure, we’re going to take it,” said head coach Michael Malone.
“We’re not going to shy away from that. You know, it was very effective for us last year, having home-court (advantage) throughout the entirety of the playoffs”.
Elsewhere, LeBron James scored nine of his 18 points in the final quarter and recorded 13 rebounds throughout the match but was unable to stop the Los Angeles Lakers from losing 120-107 against the Sacramento Kings.
Domantas Sabonis - who leads the way for triple-doubles in the NBA this season - scored his 23rd of the campaign for the Kings with 17 points, 19 rebounds and 10 assists. All five starters ended with double figures for points.
The result leaves the Kings, who have won seven out of their last eight matches, sixth in the Western Conference, which would be enough to go straight through to the playoffs, while the Lakers are ninth and set for the play-in tournament.
“Domas, I mean it’s the norm for him to get a triple-double for sure,” said Kings head coach Mike Brown.
“It’s the norm for him to get a double-double. But heck of a game by him versus a very, very physical team.
“I bet he was getting hit, bumped and all that stuff and he just stayed in there.”
Among the other results on Wednesday night, Luka Doncic was not able to extend his run of seven straight games with a triple-double but still scored 21 points in the Dallas Mavericks’ 109-99 win over the Golden State Warriors.
Elsewhere, Donovan Mitchell returned from seven games out with a knee injury, scoring 14 points for the Cleveland Cavaliers in a 116-95 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans.
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