DENVER — Trips here have basically all gone the same the past two seasons, the Lakers showing signs that they might’ve figured out ways to exploit enough of the Nuggets’ deficiencies to get a win only for Denver to slam the door and run the same script.

Eight straight times over the past two seasons, including five times in the playoffs, the Lakers have come to Denver and left with a loss, unable to finish and fully knock out the Nuggets.

But over those eight games, the Lakers were never consistent quite like they were Saturday, so locked into a game plan that they played nearly error-free basketball. Never over those previous eight games, did the Lakers fluster Nikola Jokic, forcing the three-time MVP into firing passes off of cutters’ knees or into the front row.

And never over those eight times did the Lakers have Luka Doncic.

In his fifth game since being acquired in a shocking trade for Anthony Davis, Doncic looked fully at home. Even after his first shot failed to hit anything, Doncic found his footing.

He drained stepback 3s. He zipped full-court passes. He tossed lobs.

He dominated.

The Lakers controlled the Denver Nuggets in a meaningful way during Saturday’s 123-100 win, something they haven’t achieved since the 2020 NBA playoffs. Doncic scored 32 to go with 10 rebounds and seven assists.

LeBron James, the recipient of one gorgeous streaking pass early and a lob later, scored 25 points. Austin Reaves has 23 points and Rui Hachimura scored 21 points.

The Lakers’ defensive game plan was as impressive as the offensive onslaught, if not more. They forced 21 Denver turnovers with Hachimura, James, Dorian Finney-Smith and Jarred Vanderbilt relentlessly denying Jokic the ball.

Jokic (12 points, 13 rebounds, 10 assists) shot only seven times, tying his season-low for shot attempts.

The win snapped Denver’s nine-game winning streak.

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