NBA: Lakers clinch top-seed in Western Conference; Nuggets top Thunder in OT

Orlando, FL – AUGUST 3: Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket against the Utah Jazz during a game on August 3, 2020 at The Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida. (Copyright 2020 NBAE David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images/AFP)

Tennie Sumague
EBC New York Bureau

(Eagle News)

The Los Angeles Lakers clinched the top seed in the Western Conference with a  116-108 win over the Utah Jazz Monday night.

The Lakers claimed the number one seed for the 17th time in franchise history, the first since 2010.

Anthony Davis exploded on offense after struggling against the Toronto Raptors on Saturday. Davis finished off with 42 points, 12 rebounds; 24 of those points came in the first half – the 20th time he has scored 20+ points in a half. The last Laker to accomplish this feat – the late Kobe Bryant in the 2012-13 season.

“I got chills,” Davis said to ESPN reporter, Rachel Nichols. “It’s always tough talking about him but to be in a category with [Kobe], it means alot. I know he’s looking down on us and cheering us on, so we want to do it for him. It’s an honor to even be mentioned with his name.”

Orlando, FL – AUGUST 3: Michael Porter Jr. #1 of the Denver Nuggets dunks the ball against the Oklahoma City Thunder on August 3, 2020 at The Arena at ESPN Wide World of Sports in Orlando, Florida. (Photo Courtesy: Copyright 2020 NBAE Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images/AFP)

Nuggets top Thunder in OT

Michael Porter Jr. had a career-high 37 points to go with 12 rebounds and All-Star center Nikola Jokic recorded a triple-double (30 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists)  as the Denver Nuggets topped the Oklahoma City Thunder 121-113 in overtime.

Porter Jr. became the first Nuggets rookie to score above 35 points and 10 rebounds since Carmelo Anthony accomplished that feat in 2004. The 14th pick in the 2018 draft sat out of last season due to a back injury, started as a power forward in the lineup as regular starters Gary Harris, Jamal Murray, and Will Barton were out due to injuries.

“Obviously this is what I have been working for,” Porter said. “I never wanted to, obviously, be like an average player. I am going to keep working until I get better and better. To see these little steps and see the work that I have put in over the break pay off, it feels really good.”

(Eagle News Service)