Lakers on edge of precipice after Game 3 loss to Nuggets
The bad ole’ days for this Lakers season are far behind them, rendered irrelevant first with a series of trades to remake the Lakers on the fly and secondly with wins against the Memphis Grizzlies and Golden State Warriors in the first two rounds of the playoffs.
The last-second three from Indiana, the blown call in Boston, the missed free throws in Philadelphia, the load management no-shows and the no-spacing nightmares all erased by a surge of competence that put them here, Saturday night, hosting a game in the Western Conference finals.
But even though those moments are forgotten, the scars from them are still here, visible in the heavy legs, the heaving chests and the flat jump shots and the rimmed-out free throws.
What the Lakers said after losing Game 3
No team has recovered from a 3-0 deficit to win a best-of-seven series in the NBA playoffs. The Lakers, after losing 119-108 to the Nuggets on Saturday at Crypto.com Arena, are the latest team to get a shot at history.
“The deficit is 3-0, not 4,” coach Darvin Ham said. “So as long as they have not gotten to four yet, there’s still hope. We’re still alive.”
“Just got to get one,” LeBron James said of his message to his teammates. “Just one at a time. Just focus on Game 4, and you know, that’s all you can really think about. Obviously this game is over and done with. We had some opportunities but we didn’t come through. So just get ready for Monday and just got to get one. It’s a one-game series for us.”
The Lakers are familiar with long odds this year. They started 2-10. At one point, they had a 0.3% chance of making the playoffs. Having turned the tables once, the Lakers will fight to do it again to keep their season alive.
“We never intend to pack it in,” Anthony Davis said. “Obviously as you see throughout the course of this season, we have always been a team to fight. We are resilient. Everyone keep fighting till it’s over. It’s not over. They have to win another game.”
The Lakers took a one-point lead midway through the fourth quarter, but gave up 13 unanswered points in a stretch that James said defined the game. While all three games have been tight coming down the stretch, the Nuggets have won the last two with fourth-quarter surges. Denver outscored the Lakers by 17 combined points in the fourth quarters of Games 2 and 3.
In Game 2, it was Jamal Murray’s fourth-quarter brilliance, but Game 3 came down to the role players late, James said.
“I mean, obviously Jamal was fantastic in the first half today. He got them off to a great start, and even with that, we were only down three at the half,” James said. “I think it’s been the timely shots by their role players. Obviously I think the KCPs [Kentavious Caldwell-Pope] and Michael Porter Jrs. and Bruce Browns, even Jeff [Green] hit a big-time timely shot today when we were kind of going on a run. I think it’s been the supporting cast that have kind of made those timely shots that’s allowed them to kind of have the edge.”
Lakers fall behind 3-0 in Western Conference finals
For the first time this postseason, the Lakers walked off their home court as losers.
The Nuggets took a commanding 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference finals with a 119-108 win Saturday, ending the Lakers’ undefeated postseason run at Crypto.com Arena.
Anthony Davis finished with 28 points and 18 rebounds while LeBron James delivered 23 points and 12 assists, but the Lakers didn’t have an answer to Denver’s fourth-quarter scoring flurry.
After going down by one in the fourth, the Nuggets responded with 13 unanswered points.
Jamal Murray scorched the Lakers for 30 points in the first half and finished with 37. Nikola Jokic shook off a bad start for 24 points on nine-of-19 shooting with eight assists. Michael Porter Jr. had 14 points, 10 rebounds and six assists.
Austin Reaves had 23 points on seven-of-10 shooting with three made three-pointers.
D’Angelo Russell continued his ineffective scoring this series with three points on one-of-eight shooting.
Nuggets silence Lakers crowd with 13-point run
Crypto.com Arena is stunned to near-silence as the Nuggets scored 13 unanswered points and lead 106-98 with 3:48 remaining in the fourth quarter.
The Lakers were leading 94-93, but the Nuggets made three consecutive threes and two baskets in the paint. Jamal Murray scored his first points of the second half in the run, a three-pointer from the wing, to give him 33 points.
Rui Hachimura ended the Nuggets’ run with a baseline jumper assisted by LeBron James. But the crowd that was so energized early in the quarter only mustered half-hearted cheers.
Hachimura has 13 points off the bench for the Lakers. James has 20 points and 12 assists.
Lakers grab short-lived lead as Nuggets fire back from three
Fans chanted “Ru-i! Ru-i!” as Rui Hachimura drained a second free throw that put the Lakers ahead by one with 7:48 remaining in the fourth quarter, but the Nuggets fired back with two quick three-pointers to take a 99-94 lead with seven minutes left.
After Hachimura’s free throws, Jeff Green and Bruce Brown made consecutive threes for Denver.
Hachimura has 11 points and five rebounds. He gave the Lakers an 85-84 lead with 11:00 remaining in the fourth quarter by drilling a three-pointer. It was the Lakers’ first lead since the first quarter, but Nikola Jokic grabbed the lead right back with a short-range shot 47 seconds later.
Jokic scored five consecutive points for the Nuggets to open the fourth quarter. He has 16 points.
LeBron James ends three-point drought in third quarter
Finally.
LeBron James made his first three-pointer of the Western Conference finals in the final minute of the third quarter, then added a second one on the next possession to help the Lakers cut their deficit to two points going into the fourth quarter.
The Nuggets lead 84-82 after three quarters.
James had missed his first 13 three-pointers of this series. He has 16 points on six-of-12 shooting and nine assists. He is two of five from three-point range.
Anthony Davis leads the Lakers with 26 points and 16 rebounds. Austin Reaves has 20 points.
Jamal Murray was held scoreless in the third quarter and is stuck on 30 points. Michael Porter Jr. has 11 points for the Nuggets. Nikola Jokic spent much of the third quarter on the bench with four fouls and has nine points, six assists and four rebounds.
Nuggets respond with two straight baskets
The Lakers crowd exploded when Austin Reaves tied the score with a three-pointer but the Nuggets have quieted the fans with four straight points to jump back in front 75-71 with 4:14 remaining in the third quarter.
Bruce Brown scored both baskets and has eight points off the bench.
Austin Reaves ties it up
Austin Reaves knocked down a three-pointer with 5:18 remaining in the third quarter to tie the score at 71-71.
Reaves has 20 points on six-of-nine shooting. He is two of four from three-point range.
Nikola Jokic picks up fourth foul
Nikola Jokic’s fourth foul was upheld after a Denver challenge with 7:24 remaining in the third quarter.
The Lakers trail 68-63 as the Nuggets star continues a quiet night with just nine points, four rebounds and six assists. He is four-of-12 shooting from the field.
Lakers charging back in third quarter
A fast-break dunk by Jarred Vanderbilt off the assist from LeBron James has the Lakers down by just three with 8:03 remaining in the third quarter.
The Nuggets called a timeout leading 66-63.
The Lakers are on a 6-0 run with two baskets from Anthony Davis before Vanderbilt’s dunk. Davis has six points in the third quarter already and 21 points for the night with 14 rebounds.
Can Lakers complete a Game 3 comeback?
And we’re back for the second half.
In a must-win Game 3, the Lakers are down 58-55 coming out of the locker room.
Jamal Murray stole the show in the first half with 30 points, but the Lakers stayed close behind 15 points each from Anthony Davis and Austin Reaves.
Late second-quarter push has Lakers down three at halftime
For the Lakers, this could be a lot worse.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope made a late three-pointer to put the Nuggets ahead 58-55 at halftime.
Despite trailing by 14 points early and almost getting outscored by Jamal Murray in the first quarter, the Lakers tied the score 55-55 on two free throws from Austin Reaves.
Reaves was a first-half hero for the Lakers with 15 points, four rebounds and four assists. Anthony Davis has 15 points and 11 rebounds. LeBron James has nine points and a game-high seven assists.
Murray has 30 points, but the Nuggets don’t have any other double-digit scorers. Nikola Jokic has five points, four assists and three rebounds with three fouls. Aaron Gorden is the Nuggets’ second-leading scorer with seven points.
Lakers trail by five despite 30 points from Jamal Murray
Despite 30 points from Jamal Murray in less than a half, the Lakers are still somehow down by just five.
The Lakers trail 55-50 with 1:16 remaining in the second quarter. Play was stopped because referee Scott Foster has a cut on his lip and was bleeding.
Anthony Davis leads the Lakers with 15 points and 11 rebounds while Austin Reaves has 13 points, four rebounds and four assists.
Even with Dennis Schroder face-guarding Murray full court, the Nuggets guard slipped free for a layup on a perfect pass from Aaron Gordon. Murray has 30 points and four rebounds.
Jamal Murray is on a heater
Just when the Lakers started showing some signs of life, Jamal Murray quieted the home crowd.
The Nuggets guard has 26 points and sank a three over Anthony Davis’ extended arm to put Denver ahead 51-41 with 5:27 remaining in the second quarter. Murray is 11-for-13 shooting from the field and four of five from three-point range.
The Lakers found some momentum on offense with Rui Hachimura, Austin Reaves, LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Lonnie Walker IV. The lineup cut the deficit from 12 to six, but Murray and Nikola Jokic kept draining shots to keep the Lakers at bay.
Jokic has five points and four assists.
Anthony Davis leads the Lakers with 13 points.
Austin Reaves helps Lakers cut into Nuggets lead
Austin Reaves has scored six points in the second quarter to halve the Lakers’ deficit.
The Lakers trail 36-30 with 9:00 remaining before halftime after Reaves slashed through the lane for a layup that forced a Nuggets timeout.
Reaves got the basket after the Lakers got an offensive rebound off a missed three from LeBron James. He is still scoreless from distance in this series, missing 12 consecutive threes against the Nuggets. He has five points and four assists.
Nikola Jokic picked up his second foul with 9:16 remaining in the second quarter.
Lakers were no match for Jamal Murray in first quarter
The Lakers limped out the gate despite being in a clear must-win situation and trail 32-20 after the first quarter.
Lonnie Walker IV gave the Lakers a late shot in the arm by sinking a three-pointer with 34.6 seconds remaining in the quarter. It energized the not-quite-full crowd until Jamal Murray knocked down a mid-range jumper on the next possession.
With 17 points on eight-of-10 shooting, Murray almost outscored the Lakers team in the first quarter.
Nikola Jokic is still scoreless but has two rebounds and two points. Aaron Gordon has six points.
Anthony Davis leads the Lakers with nine points and five rebounds. LeBron James has five points and two assists.
Nuggets dominating Lakers in first quarter
Nikola Jokic hasn’t scored a single point, but the Nuggets are still controlling the game with a 26-14 advantagewith 2:21 left in the first quarter.
Jokic has two rebounds and two assists while the Nuggets are content to let Jamal Murray carry the offense with 13 points on six-of-seven shooting.
Anthony Davis has nine points and four rebounds.
Trailing 20-10, Lakers coach Darvin Ham tried an interesting lineup combination with Davis, Rui Hachimura, Austin Reaves, D’Angelo Russell and Dennis Schroder. The experiment lasted two minutes. The Lakers got outscored 4-0 and were fortunate to avoid three more Nuggets points as Jokic missed an open three-pointer.
Jamal Murray is still on fire
After dropping 23 points in the fourth quarter against the Lakers on Thursday, Jamal Murray is still cooking to start Game 3 with 11 points on five-of-five shooting.
He has the Nuggets ahead 17-9 with 6:08 remaining in the first quarter.
Anthony Davis leads the Lakers with six points and two rebounds with a highlight-worthy block against a short floater from Nikola Jokic. The defensive play could have led to a golden Lakers transition opportunity, but it instead resulted in a turnover and Murray laid the ball in to tie the score at 9-9.
Lakers tip off in must-win Game 3
Hello again, this is Thuc Nhi Nguyen. I’ll be piloting our live blog tonight from the literal highest seats in Crypto.com Arena while my colleagues Dan Woike, Brad Turner, Dylan Hernandez and Helene Elliott are court level for tonight’s must-win Game 3.
We all know that no team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit in a best-of-seven NBA series. The Lakers, currently trailing 2-0 in the Western Conference finals to the Nuggets, don’t want to bother with having to potentially be the first.
No changes to starting lineups in Game 3
Neither team made a change to their starting lineup for Game 3.
The Lakers are sticking with LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Austin Reaves, D’Angelo Russell and Jarred Vanderbilt.
The Nuggets are starting with Jamal Murray, Nikola Jokic, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Jr.
Anyone else sick of Anthony Davis’ disappearing act?
DENVER — He vanished into thin air.
He disappeared under an avalanche of pressure.
He evaporated amid a mountain of howls.
Handed the most important cue of his career, he didn’t show up.
In the biggest night of the Lakers season, he took the night off.
Is anyone else getting sick of this act that is Anthony Davis?
On a devastating Thursday evening at loud, hostile Ball Arena, the Lakers’ most important player continued his playoff-long trend of failing to consistently perform.
Only this time, his stumbles might have shoved his entire team off the stage.
Why the Lakers’ signature three-point celebration isn’t what you think
Dennis Schroder Jr., the 4-year-old son of the Lakers’ guard, entered the team’s locker room in Los Angeles not long after his father’s team defeated the defending champion Golden State Warriors.
“Junior,” LeBron James said from his stall, and soon the boy was dapping up James and Anthony Davis.
It was a special moment for Schroder, a player who re-signed with the Lakers on a minimum contract because, in part, of unfinished business from the Lakers’ failed title defense in 2021. Now his oldest child was sharing smiles with two future Hall-of-Fame players, including the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.
“You don’t take that for granted,” Schroder later told The Times.
Before Junior left the room, there was one last thing to do, one more moment to cement that these Lakers were together in lockstep in ways that were unimaginable earlier in the season.
“Hit the freeze,” Schroder told his son.
And without hesitation, the 4-year-old extended one arm, palm in the air, while he pointed at his bicep and nailed the unofficial celebration of the Lakers’ turnaround to huge laughter from James and Davis.
The Lakers’ celebration ritual had its roots from earlier in the season in team card games.
It’s a new playoff challenge for Lakers as series shifts home
DENVER — For the first time in these Western Conference playoffs, the Lakers have lost the first two games on the road. For the first time in these best-of-seven series, the Lakers have run up against an opponent that has been equal to the force they have been delivering.
They faced a Denver Nuggets team that still has not lost a game at home, improving to 8-0, the Lakers feeling the same pain the Minnesota Timberwolves and Phoenix Suns felt when they came here earlier this postseason.
The Lakers have not lost a postseason game at Crypto.com Arena, building a 6-0 record.
But LeBron James said after the Lakers dropped Game 2 to the Nuggets 108-103 on Thursday night to open a 2-0 lead they can’t just rely on that for comfort.
“We’re still going to play with the same desperation as we did tonight when we came out with an L,” James said after he scored 22 points, handed out 10 assists and grabbed nine rebounds. “But it doesn’t give us any more comfort. You can’t go into any postseason game with comfort because you haven’t lost at home and you’re going back home. I think it’s even more you have to be on edge.”