Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic kept it simple after losing to the Los Angeles Lakers

Feb 20, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) reacts in the first half against the Charlotte Hornets at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images / Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

In one of their biggest games of the regular season on Saturday night, the Denver Nuggets fell flat. Going against the Los Angeles Lakers superstar duo of Luka Doncic and LeBron James was never going to be easy for Denver, and they seemed completely unprepared in a 123-100 loss.

The newest Lakers star, Luka Doncic, went off for 32 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists for his best performance since getting traded to LA, while co-star LeBron James chipped in 25 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists.

The Nuggets were riding a nine-game win streak going into Saturday, but each of those wins came against a losing team. For Denver’s first real test of the month, they collapsed.

Feb 22, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) works in the post against Los Angeles Lakers guard Gabe Vincent (7) during the first half at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images / Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images

Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic dropped 12 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists on questionable 2-7 shooting from the field. Typically, the Nuggets only go as far as Jokic takes them, and the three-time MVP was outclassed by the Lakers on Saturday night.

Following the loss, Jokic gave a very blunt response when asked about Denver’s struggles against winning teams coming off a nine-game win streak against losing teams.

“Maybe we tricked ourselves,” Jokic said.

While Denver did not play any winning teams during their nine-game win streak, good teams have to be able to beat the bad teams. The Nuggets did their job, and one bad loss against a good Lakers team should not define them in any way.

The Nuggets now head into a four-game road trip against four of the top six teams in the Eastern Conference. After failing their big test against the Lakers on Saturday, the Nuggets will get a few chances to redeem themselves coming up.