The defending champion Denver Nuggets beat the Los Angeles Lakers 114-103 to take a 1-0 lead in the first round series of the NBA play-offs.
Nuggets star Nikola Jokic scored 32 points to help his team overcome a small halftime deficit to win.
Elsewhere in the Western Conference, the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Phoenix Suns 120-95.
In the Eastern Conference, there were victories by the New York Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Knicks recorded a 111-104 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers, while the Cavaliers beat the Orlando Magic 97-83.
Josh Hart and Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 22 points each, as the second-seeded teams responded to Philadelphia’s third-quarter comeback, taking a late lead to seal the victory.
The Cavaliers never trailed the Magic in an impressive showing, with Donavon Mitchell scoring 30 points.
The Nuggets beat the Lakers in every regular season game but got off to a slow start before a 13-0 third-quarter run put them in control.
Anthony Davis scored 32 points for the Lakers and LeBron James added 27, threatening a late comeback, but Denver held firm.
While the Suns won all three regular season games against the Timberwolves, the hosts turned things around in the first game of the play-offs, with Anthony Edwards starring with 33 points.
Suns star Kevin Durant scored 31 points, but his team faded badly in the third quarter, with Edwards trash-talking Durant after hitting a three-pointer.
