The reigning NBA champion Denver Nuggets have been put in the uncomfortable position of playing the Los Angeles Lakers seemingly every time they have had something to celebrate lately. On Saturday night, it was LeBron James becoming the first player in league history to score 40,000 points. As has also been the case of late, James ended the evening by admitting the cold-hard truth about Nikola Jokić.
Judging by what Jamal Murray had to say after Denver’s latest resounding win over L.A., it’s clear the Nuggets take tremendous pride in humbling the Lakers in some of their best moments of joy.
After first noting his respect for James, his consistency, and his many accomplishments, Murray didn’t hesitate. He summed up the Nuggets’ mentality behind spoiling another Lakers’ celebration in the most cold-blooded way:
Jamal Murray. So good.
“We just wanted to take the life out of this arena.” @nuggets @AltitudeTV pic.twitter.com/i4jCGRaqxY
— Vic Lombardi (@VicLombardi) March 3, 2024
Man. My goodness. That Murray essentially doesn’t even blink while saying, “We just wanted to take the life out of this arena,” should make clear where the Nuggets stand. (Also note when he says the NBA should schedule someone else for the Lakers when they have something to celebrate. I mean … phew.)
The Nuggets really like to play the Lakers. They really like to humble the Lakers. They take the Lakers seriously and appreciate putting them in their place. There’s no other reasonable conclusion after watching them beat Los Angeles eight consecutive times. Which, for the record, notably includes:
- A sweep in last year’s Western Conference Finals
- A dominant win on Denver’s banner night earlier this year
- A convincing victory on the evening the Lakers unveiled Kobe Bryant’s statue outside their arena
- A conclusive triumph over L.A. on a night where James made all-time history
All of this to say: The Nuggets are accustomed to taking the life out of the Lakers’ arena. Murray and friends are so confident and who can blame them.
NBA fans respected Murray's cold-blooded reaction to humbling the Lakers again
Lakers fans when they see Jokic and Jamal in their building https://t.co/c7GBb8AxpJ pic.twitter.com/cN4vquoC27
— Td (@Td00392420) March 3, 2024
They take it personal and want to destroy this team each time. They literally raise their level and laugh after the game. https://t.co/2AV2S6kyEA
— QueensGambit00 (@QGambit00) March 3, 2024
It’s been clear for a while now that the Nuggets want to beat the Lakers more than anyone else but the Lakers have struggled to rise to the occasion. https://t.co/RjnJ0aDp8O
— Laker Central (@LakerCentral365) March 3, 2024
Good stuff from Jamal on big wins vs Lakers this season. https://t.co/2p3VysEXVE
— Troy Renck (@TroyRenck) March 3, 2024
Jamal says that if the Lakers wanna win, the schedule makers need to “give em somebody else” besides the Nuggets on important nights 😎 https://t.co/hHzkXVMtKI
— Nuggets_freak (@Nuggets_freak) March 3, 2024
I’m telling yall they purposely make these games close so they can rip their hearts out https://t.co/GgkxkeB6gn
— Robert (Nuggets/Packers) (@Nuggets5276) March 3, 2024
he’s such a killer bro https://t.co/6O5C8rAIB5
— A🃏(40-19) (@milehighaki) March 3, 2024
I am here for this! These big Laker games maybe they should reconsider who they schedule for these games 🤣🤣 https://t.co/XrePmvc5rX
— Julio César (@jvliogtxz) March 3, 2024
Even jamal feels bad for the lakers haha https://t.co/EYVC5RMdIu
— Gerald (@Gtard93) March 3, 2024
He said “Give ‘em somebody else 🤣🤣 https://t.co/HWkSQxOIyC
— alex (@notalex_10) March 3, 2024
