USA Today via Reuters
May 18, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) passes against Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) and guard Austin Reaves (15) in the third quarter during game two of the Western Conference Finals for the 2023 NBA playoffs at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
USA Today via Reuters
May 18, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) passes against Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) and guard Austin Reaves (15) in the third quarter during game two of the Western Conference Finals for the 2023 NBA playoffs at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
The Denver Nuggets will go head-to-head against the Los Angeles Clippers tonight. Nikola Jokic and Co. will be looking to bounce back after their four-game winning streak was snapped by the Sacramento Kings on Saturday. The Nuggets lost to the Kings 123-117 despite the 2-time MVP’s historic triple-double performance.
Denver will also have some added motivation against Kawhi Leonard and Co. as they have a chance to join the Golden State Warriors in an elite club if they win tonight.
Denver Nuggets on the verge of setting a new record
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According to a unique stat, the Denver Nuggets have won their last 11 games against the LA Clippers and the LA Lakers, regular season and playoffs combined. If they win against Kawhi Leonard and Co. tonight, Denver will match the longest winning streak in history against the two LA-based teams. The record is currently held by the Golden State Warriors with 12 straight wins from 2016 to 2018. Nikola Jokic and Co. began their unique winning streak against the two LA teams on January 5th this year.
The Nuggets have won their last 11 games against the Clippers/Lakers (including the playoffs).
With a win tonight, they’ll match the longest winning streak in NBA history against the LA-based teams, most recently done by the Warriors (12 straight in 2016-18). pic.twitter.com/7ybVz5sACB
— Jake Coyne (Stat Squatch) (@BroncoSquatch) December 6, 2023
Since then, the Nuggets have won 6 straight games against the Lakers, including their sweep in the Western Conference finals last season. Denver is on a separate 8-game winning streak against the Clippers. They have not lost to Kawhi Leonard and Co. since January of last year. But the first 3 wins do not count in the Warriors’ record because they lost to the Lakers in between those matches.
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Nikola Jokic and Co. can win back-to-back Championships
Even though the Denver Nuggets will be excited to join the company of Stephen Curry and Co. with the most wins against LA-based teams, they will have a bigger goal in mind. Denver wants to win back-to-back Championships and etch their name in history. Nikola Jokic has been playing at an elite level and has a legitimate chance at winning his third MVP trophy. He is averaging nearly a triple-double with 28.9 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 9.8 assists. He has led the Nuggets to a 14-7 record, and they are sitting comfortably in the third spot of the Western Conference standings.
Read More: Should Nikola Jokic Be Considered a Top-10 Player in the History of the NBA?
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The Joker played great in the last game against the Kings and finished with an insane stat line of 36 points, 14 assists, and 13 rebounds. But the Nuggets lost despite Jokic’s dominant performance. It will not be easy for the Nuggets to get a win against the Clippers tonight as they are slowly starting to figure out how to play with James Harden in the line-up. Do you think the Nuggets will be able to match the Warriors’ record tonight?
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