Nikola Jokic and Domantas Sabonis

One of the most dominant players in his position, Anthony Davis has a very poor record against two other pivots: Nikola Jokicof Denver NuggetsIt is Domantas Sabonisof Sacramento Kings. The defeat of Los Angeles Lakers in a game far below the average of his star against his rival in California last Wednesday, 6th, he increased his fast. In the same way he was defeated last Saturday, 2, by the Serbian in his own Crypto.com Arena.

The setback against Sabonis kept a taboo alive for Davis, who had never managed to beat the Lithuanian in his entire career in the world. NBA. So far, there have been nine duels and nine defeats since they faced each other for the first time, back in 2016. The interesting thing is that four of these matches took place in the Sacramento star’s freshman season, in 2016/17. At the time, AD still defended the New Orleans Pelicanswhile Sabonis was a reserve for Oklahoma City Thunder.

Both only faced each other again two years later, in the 2018/19 campaign, when Sabonis was establishing himself as a great player for the team. Indiana Pacers, scoring 18 points and grabbing 13 rebounds over Davis, who was in his final year in New Orleans. In the game, AD scored 15 points and grabbed seven rebounds. A new meeting only took place last season, as the two had injury problems. The Lithuanian was already with the Kings and the North American with the Lakers, only three games in which they faced each other, three victories for the Sacramento team.

Against Nikola Jokic, the record is more balanced. However, the Lakers are on a winning streak against the Nuggets, with their last victory only being on December 16, 2022. Since then, there have been seven straight defeats. Furthermore, the Colorado franchise even swept the California team in the final of Western Conference from 2022/23.