Man, the Lakers didn’t just beat the Nuggets—they straight-up embarrassed them. Not only did they win 123-100, but they also snapped Denver’s nine-game winning streak in the process. This wasn’t just a solid win over the defending champs. Instead, it was proof that JJ Redick’s system is starting to click, that Luka Doncic, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves are building something real, and, most importantly, that this team has one goal—an NBA championship.

When Luka arrived, people had questions. How would he fit? Who’s handling the ball? Would the chemistry work? Well, against Denver, those doubts started disappearing fast. Not only did Luka put up 32 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists, but Reaves also went off for 23 points. Meanwhile, LeBron orchestrated the whole thing, finishing with 25 points and 9 assists. This was, without a doubt, the most complete game the Lakers have played since the trade.

And after the game, Luka made one thing clear—this is just the beginning.

From the moment Redick took this job, he made one thing clear—Luka is going to have the ball. That’s where he’s at his best, and it’s how the Lakers can maximize their offense. “Luka will have the ball in his hands. That’s where he’s most effective. AR and the rest of us will play off of that.“

And you can see it working. It’s not just about Luka putting up numbers. More importantly, it’s about the team playing the right way—moving the ball, making the right reads, and generating easy looks. Against Denver, they had 27 assists. That’s elite.

And let’s be honest, this ain’t The Luka Show. Right before the trade, there was a big question of how this would affect Austin Reaves as an individual. People wondered how Luka would mess up the fact that he’d been thriving as a secondary playmaker. However, it hasn’t been a problem at all. Reaves thus looked rather comfortable, pouring in 23 points on his way to 7 of 13 shooting while switching between on the ball and off the ball at will. “They’re going to have their times to be on the ball. But all three of those guys are very intelligent basketball players.“

And it showed. Not only did the Lakers beat Denver, but they also picked them apart. Time and time again, they forced the Nuggets into bad defensive positions, making Nikola Jokic decide whether to step up or stay back. That was Redick’s whole plan. “And we can create mismatches. We can get teams in the blunder. A lot of times that’s how we were able to generate, I thought, some great looks in the first half.“

That’s exactly what happened. Luka was breaking down the defense, Reaves was attacking weak spots, and LeBron was controlling the tempo. Because of that, the Nuggets just couldn’t keep up.

Winning the Championship – Luka Doncic’s Warning to the League

If it wasn’t obvious already, it should be now—the Lakers aren’t just adjusting. Instead, they’re coming for a title. Of course, Luka knows they’re still figuring things out, but you can hear the confidence in his voice. “Like I said, you know, every day is going to get better. I’m getting to learn the plays. They’re similar, but they all have different names.“

And yet, even with that learning curve, he torched the Nuggets. As their chemistry keeps improving, their ceiling keeps rising. More importantly, Luka isn’t shying away from what the goal is. “Us three, I think it depends on the day. Everybody has so much talent. So, I think today the way we did, the way we shared the ball was amazing, and the ball movement was amazing.“

It wasn’t just about ball movement, though. In addition to that, this was an all-around dominant performance. The Lakers outscored Denver 62-48 in the paint. They won the rebounding battle 46-38. Plus, they held the Nuggets to just 42.7% shooting. That’s the kind of all-around effort that wins championships.

But forget the stats for a second. The real takeaway from this game? The Lakers feel different now. They’re playing with energy, confidence, and purpose. And when a team with Luka, LeBron, and Reaves starts clicking like this? Yeah, the rest of the league better take notice.

This wasn’t just another regular-season win. Instead, this was a warning shot to the rest of the NBA. Luka is fully locked into Redick’s system. Reaves is thriving. LeBron is keeping the team locked in. Meanwhile, the chemistry is growing, and the championship mindset is real.

If this is how they look now, just imagine what they’ll look like in the playoffs. The message is loud and clear—the Lakers aren’t just here to compete. They’re here to win it all.