The Nuggets win streak over the Lakers stands at nine games, including five playoff meetings, after Saturday’s game at Ball Arena.

Here are three takeaways from Denver’s 114-103 win in Game 1.

1. It looks like the Lakers are going to need some luck to make this a series. Denver won by double digits in a game where Anthony Davis scored 32 points, grabbed 14 rebounds and dished out five assists, and LeBron James added 27 points, eight assists and six rebounds. To top it off, the Lakers finished with 19 free throw attempts to Denver’s six, while Jamal Murray made just nine of his 24 shots. The Lakers still don’t have an answer for Nikola Jokic, who led the Nuggets with 32 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists.

2. D’Angelo Russell’s stretch of solid play looks like fools gold. After being played out of the starting lineup in Game 4 of last year’s series, a similar outcome looks likely if Saturday’s game was any indication. Not only did the Nuggets pick on Russell defensively, he took 20 shots and made only six of them.

3. Peyton Watson’s first meaningful minutes of the postseason came earlier than expected, and the results were a mixed bag. After Aaron Gordon picked up his second foul in the first five minutes, Watson drilled a 3-pointer on his first possession in the game. LeBron James got those points right back, cutting behind Watson for a layup and hitting a 3 on consecutive possessions. Watson finished the first half with eight points, two more than all of the Lakers reserves combined. He finished the night with eight points, and a block in just under 14 minutes of playing time.

NUGGETS 114, LAKERS 103

What happened: A strong second half gave Denver a 1-0 lead in the first-round series.

The Nuggets trailed by eight after the first quarter, fell behind by 12 in the second but cut the deficit to 60-57 at halftime. A dominant third quarter put Denver up 11 to start the fourth, and the Nuggets led the rest of the way.

What went right: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope shook off his slow start and ignited Denver’s run in the third quarter. After missing all four of his shots in the first two quarters, including three 3-pointers, the veteran shooting guard made his first three 3s of the third. After a miss, he hit a fourth. His second steal of the third quarter put Denver up 14 late in the third.

What went wrong: Aaron Gordon picked up his second foul five minutes into the first quarter. That likely messed up Michael Malone’s planned rotations, as Gordon was not used as the back-up center in the first half. DeAndre Jordan played the four-plus minutes that Nikola Jokic rested.

Highlight of the night: Jamal Murray jolted the home crowd to life with a driving dunk in the middle of the first quarter. Denver’s starting point guard used a crossover to get a step on LeBron James. Knowing James’s affinity for chase-down blocks, Murray raced to the hoop and elevated for a one-handed dunk that brought the Nuggets within four points.

Up next: Game 2 is Monday night at Ball Arena.