LOS ANGELES, United States: Luka Doncic delivered a dominant 32-point performance as the Los Angeles Lakers snapped the Denver Nuggets’ nine-game winning streak on Saturday with an impressive 123-100 victory on the road in Colorado.
Doncic, playing only his fourth game for the Lakers since his blockbuster trade from Dallas, was in scintillating form as the Lakers conjured a statement wire-to-wire win over their Western Conference rivals.
The Slovenian superstar was the standout performer on a night when the Lakers saw four players finish with 20 points or more for the first time this season.
Doncic finished with 32 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists while LeBron James backed him with 25 points. Austin Reaves added 23 points and Rui Hachimura 21.
“I’m starting to feel a little bit more like myself — that’s why I was smiling the whole game,” Doncic told ESPN afterward.
“There’s still a lot of room for improvement and this is only my fourth game. Chemistry takes time. But you saw today that things are getting better.”
Doncic had signalled he was in the mood for a stellar performance early in the first quarter, arrowing a couple of superb passes to James and Jaxson Hayes to help the Lakers take an 8-3 lead.
A sublime three-pointer from Doncic put the Lakers into a 31-18 lead as the visitors remained firmly on top.
Doncic finished the first quarter with 16 points, four rebounds and three assists and was soon back into the groove in the second quarter.
A delicate lobbed assist to James for an alley-oop dunk made it 60-52 before Doncic unfurled a 24-foot three-pointer to put the Lakers 11 points up.
The Nuggets closed the deficit to 63-54 at the half, but the Lakers remained in control for much of the third quarter, taking a nine-point advantage into the final frame.
The Lakers continued to keep the scoreboard ticking over in the fourth, and Doncic put Los Angeles into a 20-point lead at 117-97 with just over four minutes remaining after another Denver turnover to effectively ice the game.
The Lakers improved to 34-21 with the win and remain fifth in the West. The Nuggets fell to 37-20 with the defeat.
In other NBA action on Saturday, the Phoenix Suns halted their four-game losing streak with a 121-117 road victory over the Chicago Bulls.
Devin Booker finished with 29 points while Kevin Durant added 27 and Bradley Beal 25 as Phoenix fought back from an early 13-point deficit to claim a win that lifts them to 27-29 in the Western Conference.
Australian international Josh Giddey led the Bulls’ scorers with 24 points.
Elsewhere, the Philadelphia 76ers problems continued with a seventh straight defeat as they slumped to an agonizing 105-103 home loss against the Brooklyn Nets.
Sixers ace Tyrese Maxey leveled it for Philadelphia with a three-pointer with 23 seconds remaining.
But Nic Claxton’s tip layup at the buzzer snatched victory for Brooklyn, who improved to 21-35 with the win.
Cameron Johnson led Brooklyn’s scorers with 23 points, while Maxey’s 31-point haul went in vain for Philadelphia.
Sixers star Joel Embiid had another frustrating outing, finishing with only 14 points from 4-of-13 shooting and being benched for the fourth quarter.
Sixers coach Nick Nurse defended Embiid’s contribution as he continues to struggle with a niggling knee problem.
“He’s giving us what he can,” Nurse said of Embiid. “He’s not himself, we all know that. He’s not, certainly, the guy that we’re used to seeing play at a super high level.
“But I commend him for giving us what he can.”
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Doncic dominates as Lakers rout Nuggets, Suns gore Bulls
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Doncic dominates as Lakers rout Nuggets, Suns gore Bulls
- The Slovenian superstar was the standout performer for the Lakers
- Doncic finished with 32 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists
Seahawks soar to Super Bowl win over Patriots
- The Seattle Seahawks coasted to Super Bowl glory Sunday, routing the New England Patriots 29-13 as Sam Darnold sealed his journey from flop quarterback to conqueror of the NFL’s biggest prize
SANTA CLARA: The Seattle Seahawks coasted to Super Bowl glory Sunday, routing the New England Patriots 29-13 as Sam Darnold sealed his journey from flop quarterback to conqueror of the NFL’s biggest prize.
Brushing off a reputation for wilting in big games, journeyman quarterback Darnold threw for a touchdown and some 200 yards on the grandest stage of all to give the Seahawks their second-ever Lombardi Trophy.
“It’s unbelievable. Everything that has happened in my career, but to do it with this team, I wouldn’t want it any other way,” said Darnold.
The victory was buoyed by a dominant defensive display, and kicker Jason Myers’ five field goals — the most ever by one player in a Super Bowl.
But it was a night to forget for Darnold’s counterpart Drake Maye, who was sacked six times and threw two interceptions, failing in his bid to become the youngest starting quarterback to win a Super Bowl at 23.
Bad Bunny performed the half-time show, singing entirely in Spanish in a Super Bowl first.
One of the world’s biggest artists, Bad Bunny has been a vocal critic of Donald Trump’s brutal and divisive immigration crackdown.
His vibrant show, featuring cameos from Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin, largely avoided politics.
That did not stop Trump — who did not attend — taking to social media to dub it an “affront” to the United States, claiming that no one could understand the performance.
’Evil Empire’
An initially cagey game featured no touchdowns for either side in the first three quarters, with the Patriots stifled and the Seahawks largely playing it safe, relying on Kenneth Walker.
The running back managed 135 rushing yards across the night, and was named the game’s Most Valuable Player.
“We went through a lot of adversity this year, but we came together and stuck together and this is what we got,” said Walker, after the game.
Super Bowl LX sprang to life in the final quarter, with four touchdowns.
Darnold led things off with his endzone pass to A.J. Barner, before the hitherto scoreless Patriots hit back with Maye finding Mack Hollins for a touchdown.
Seattle compounded the misery with yet another Maye sack resulting in a turnover and a career-first touchdown for linebacker Uchenna Nwosu, before the Patriots managed another consolation visit to the end zone.
It all meant Seattle avenged its loss to the Patriots in the Seahawks’ previous Super Bowl appearance, back in 2015.
For the Patriots, a franchise once so dominant they were dubbed the “Evil Empire,” it was a disappointing night to end a season in which they had been reborn under coach of the year Mike Vrabel.
The storied franchise could not secure a record seventh Super Bowl, and their first since the departure of Tom Brady.
Porous Patriots
More than 120 million Americans were expected to watch the biggest event in US sports, which took place at the 75,000-capacity Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
The Seahawks boasted a vocal majority of fans from the kickoff, and their early nerves were settled with a field goal from the game’s very first drive.
New England’s porous offensive line was continually overwhelmed, the team pinned deep in its own territory, as Seattle added two more field goals for a 9-0 lead at the break.
Bad Bunny’s half-time performance came as a welcome respite for New England, with Internet memes quickly joking that the superstar had “gained more yards than the Patriots” as he strutted through his colorful set.
The Seahawks picked up where they left off, with Walker’s legs powering Seattle up the field for Myers to extend the lead.
Seattle finally managed the game’s first touchdown. Darnold’s 16-yard pass found tight end Barner in the deep right corner of the endzone.
With the night threatening to turn into farce, a topless streaker evaded security efforts.
This time the break in play briefly sparked New England to life. Maye found Hollins with a stunning 35-yard sling for a touchdown and the Patriots’ first points, narrowing the game to 19-7.
But it proved in vain, as Nwosu sealed the win before Rhamondre Stevenson ran in a late consolation touchdown.
It was sweet vindication for the humble Darnold, once a highly drafted youth who played for four NFL franchises before his stunning debut season in Seattle ended in the ultimate victory.
“So proud of my guys. I can’t say enough great things about our defense and special teams,” said Darnold.
“I know we won the Super Bowl. We could have been a little bit better on offense but I don’t care about that right now. An unbelievable feeling.”
Brushing off a reputation for wilting in big games, journeyman quarterback Darnold threw for a touchdown and some 200 yards on the grandest stage of all to give the Seahawks their second-ever Lombardi Trophy.
“It’s unbelievable. Everything that has happened in my career, but to do it with this team, I wouldn’t want it any other way,” said Darnold.
The victory was buoyed by a dominant defensive display, and kicker Jason Myers’ five field goals — the most ever by one player in a Super Bowl.
But it was a night to forget for Darnold’s counterpart Drake Maye, who was sacked six times and threw two interceptions, failing in his bid to become the youngest starting quarterback to win a Super Bowl at 23.
Bad Bunny performed the half-time show, singing entirely in Spanish in a Super Bowl first.
One of the world’s biggest artists, Bad Bunny has been a vocal critic of Donald Trump’s brutal and divisive immigration crackdown.
His vibrant show, featuring cameos from Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin, largely avoided politics.
That did not stop Trump — who did not attend — taking to social media to dub it an “affront” to the United States, claiming that no one could understand the performance.
’Evil Empire’
An initially cagey game featured no touchdowns for either side in the first three quarters, with the Patriots stifled and the Seahawks largely playing it safe, relying on Kenneth Walker.
The running back managed 135 rushing yards across the night, and was named the game’s Most Valuable Player.
“We went through a lot of adversity this year, but we came together and stuck together and this is what we got,” said Walker, after the game.
Super Bowl LX sprang to life in the final quarter, with four touchdowns.
Darnold led things off with his endzone pass to A.J. Barner, before the hitherto scoreless Patriots hit back with Maye finding Mack Hollins for a touchdown.
Seattle compounded the misery with yet another Maye sack resulting in a turnover and a career-first touchdown for linebacker Uchenna Nwosu, before the Patriots managed another consolation visit to the end zone.
It all meant Seattle avenged its loss to the Patriots in the Seahawks’ previous Super Bowl appearance, back in 2015.
For the Patriots, a franchise once so dominant they were dubbed the “Evil Empire,” it was a disappointing night to end a season in which they had been reborn under coach of the year Mike Vrabel.
The storied franchise could not secure a record seventh Super Bowl, and their first since the departure of Tom Brady.
Porous Patriots
More than 120 million Americans were expected to watch the biggest event in US sports, which took place at the 75,000-capacity Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
The Seahawks boasted a vocal majority of fans from the kickoff, and their early nerves were settled with a field goal from the game’s very first drive.
New England’s porous offensive line was continually overwhelmed, the team pinned deep in its own territory, as Seattle added two more field goals for a 9-0 lead at the break.
Bad Bunny’s half-time performance came as a welcome respite for New England, with Internet memes quickly joking that the superstar had “gained more yards than the Patriots” as he strutted through his colorful set.
The Seahawks picked up where they left off, with Walker’s legs powering Seattle up the field for Myers to extend the lead.
Seattle finally managed the game’s first touchdown. Darnold’s 16-yard pass found tight end Barner in the deep right corner of the endzone.
With the night threatening to turn into farce, a topless streaker evaded security efforts.
This time the break in play briefly sparked New England to life. Maye found Hollins with a stunning 35-yard sling for a touchdown and the Patriots’ first points, narrowing the game to 19-7.
But it proved in vain, as Nwosu sealed the win before Rhamondre Stevenson ran in a late consolation touchdown.
It was sweet vindication for the humble Darnold, once a highly drafted youth who played for four NFL franchises before his stunning debut season in Seattle ended in the ultimate victory.
“So proud of my guys. I can’t say enough great things about our defense and special teams,” said Darnold.
“I know we won the Super Bowl. We could have been a little bit better on offense but I don’t care about that right now. An unbelievable feeling.”
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