Listed below are 5 takeaways from the Lakers’ 112-105 loss to Denver in Sport 3 that put the Nuggets up 3-0 of their first-round playoff sequence.
The top is close to
Had the Lakers been capable of pull out Sport 3, significantly with the way in which they once more defended the Nuggets for big stretches, perhaps you might squint and see a pathway for the staff to realize some floor within the matchup.
However the capturing was a catastrophe for the second time in three video games and the third quarter, once more, was a multitude.
And now, the Lakers should stave off elimination.
Learn extra: Lakers fade once more in Sport 3 loss to Denver, shifting to brink of elimination
“It is so simple as win or go dwelling. It is so simple as that,” coach Darvin Ham stated after. “We have to return with aggressive delight. Attempt to get one right here and keep alive. It is one sport at a time. That is all we have now is the following sport. And in order that’s all we needs to be involved with, coming in right here Saturday, having aggressive delight, attempt to put this factor collectively and get us one.”
Make/miss
Earlier than Thursday, you would possibly’ve thought it was unattainable to win a sport making 5 or fewer three-point pictures within the playoffs whereas taking at the very least 25 — solely 9 groups had ever accomplished it in league historical past.
However Denver managed to do it in Sport 3, throwing some water on the Lakers’ emotions that, if solely they’d made some pictures.
Nonetheless, the Lakers had been one of many NBA’s greatest offenses heading into the playoffs solely to, as soon as once more, be one of many NBA’s worst up to now of their sequence with the Nuggets.
In Sport 3, they went five-for-27 from three-point vary. The Lakers shot worse from behind the arc simply thrice this season, with Thursday’s efficiency making Sport 1’s eight-for-29 from deep seem like a scorcher.
“It is tremendous irritating,” Austin Reaves stated. “I do know after the commerce deadline, even a bit of earlier than that, our offense was clicking on all cylinders. And we have been outscoring folks greater than we have been beating folks with our protection. … However such as you stated, our offense has struggled, and it is tremendous irritating. Shedding sucks. That is all anyone ought to care about in our locker room is us dropping proper now. It should not be the rest aside from that, and that is it.”
Battle of the X’s
In Sport 3, the Lakers managed to do a fairly good job on Denver’s two stars, holding Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray to a mixed 46 factors on 34 pictures — not nice, however not back-breaking.
LeBron James and Anthony Davis, they cooked, scoring 59 factors on 43 pictures.
So how did the Lakers lose?
Aaron Gordon, Denver’s bodily energy ahead, once more was a thorn of their facet, beating the Lakers backdoor for simple dunks whereas amassing 5 of Denver’s 14 offensive rebounds.
“Typically it is the guards on greater guys. However different occasions it is simply easy boxing out or simply going to get it,” Davis stated. “There have been occasions at present the place guys missed pictures and acquired their very own rebound. I believe everyone seems to be anticipating the opposite man going to get it as an alternative of considered one of us going to get it. So I believe that is the place lots of the rebounds come from.”
Blame sport
Because the Lakers, once more, fell behind within the fourth quarter, chants of “Hearth Darvin” began within the crowd for the primary time this season.
One widespread critique — in-game changes — got here up postgame with Reaves, however he took a extra straight-line strategy to accountability.
“I believe Denver’s simply beating us, to be sincere,” he stated. “You possibly can discuss changes, you possibly can discuss this and that, however on the finish of the day, we acquired to go put our greatest foot ahead in basketball video games.”
Nonetheless, the Lakers should be higher, particularly in third quarters, the place they have been once more outscored by double digits.
Learn extra: Plaschke: Darvin Ham is on the recent seat because the Lakers are on the point of elimination
“ I really feel like our power, we spend a lot power within the first half constructing leads or the defensive depth that we have now, that we come out within the third quarter with not a lot power or we will sort of lose monitor of rotations and element that we had within the first half,” James stated. “I believe lots of that performed into it. And also you give credit score the place credit score is due with Denver. These guys make robust shot after robust shot after robust shot. I believe there’s lots of issues that occurred within the third, for certain, tonight.”
What’s subsequent?
Properly, Sport 4 is on Saturday — with tons at stake.
James, in fact, generally is a free agent this summer season. D’Angelo Russell, who was scoreless on Thursday, can decide out of his deal and check the market.
And there’s the stress on Ham, which has resurfaced after temperatures cooled on his sizzling seat through the season.
“Making an attempt to get a sport after which go from there,” Davis stated. “Attempt to get a sport on Saturday, Sport 4. And go from there. Nevertheless many straight [we lost], we will’t give attention to that. Our focus is making an attempt to get higher from tonight, study from our errors and attempt to get a win on Saturday. We are able to’t do something about it. It’s previously. Our discussions have been transition and rebounding, scoring, holding our tempo and specializing in Sport 4.”
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This story initially appeared in Los Angeles Instances.
