DENVER — As time passed and the game got closer, there was only one way for Game 2 between the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets to end.
For most of the game, the Lakers thought they were about to end their nine-game losing streak against the Nuggets, overcome their recent history and return to a series in which only they truly believe they have a chance. Reaves made 3-pointers, they led 68-48 with 10:00 remaining in the third quarter.
But because of a combination of fatigue, missed shots and a stagnant offense, the Lakers scored just 31 more points from that point on. They didn’t bury the Nuggets. They couldn’t. And once Denver had a chance to win the game, they took it, like they have so many times before.
When Jamal Murray dribbled the ball up the floor, the Ball Arena crowd rising to its feet and buzzing with anticipation, the inevitable and heartbreaking conclusion to Game 2 became clear. The Nuggets had hit the Lakers in various ways nine times before. But never like this.
Murray ripped out the Lakers’ hearts with a 15-foot fadeaway over Anthony Davis to seal the Nuggets’ 101-99 comeback victory. Denver now holds a 2-0 lead in the series – and has won 10 straight games against Los Angeles. We don’t know how much longer the Lakers will show their life. Game 3 is Thursday in Los Angeles – the Lakers’ last chance to make it a series.
“We have periods where we don’t know what we’re doing on both ends of the floor,” Davis said after the game. “I just have to get it right on Thursday.”
The pain for the Lakers was palpable after the game. Head coach Darvin Ham sat at the podium seething before lashing out at the officials for what he and the Lakers considered several incorrect calls and non-calls. LeBron James remained calm until the end of his speech when he also called the league’s replay center — at least the third time he’s done so this season. Anthony Davis ended his press conference with an angry mic drop when asked what he saw on the final possession against Murray.
D’Angelo Russell addressed X to call out a called foul late in the third quarter.
It’s a mistake we’ve all seen on national television.
– D’Angelo Russell (@Dloading) April 23, 2024
The Lakers were shaken. As they should be after this type of loss — after 10 straight losses to Denver, each seemingly more painful and deflating than the last. At this point, it seems like the Nuggets are content to torture the Lakers, inventing new ways to embarrass them in high-stakes moments. And, given the context of this series and the past year of Lakers-Nuggets matchups, it’s hard to find a glimmer of hope or reason to be optimistic for the Lakers.
The first game was a missed opportunity. Game 2 was a knockout blow.
The Lakers had to win one of these two games. Now, to win the series, they’ll have to do something they haven’t done in nearly 500 days — beat Denver — and do it four times in the next five games, including at least one at Ball Arena.
This is a daunting task for any team to accomplish. The Lakers may have a game in Los Angeles, but it’s hard to see them winning more than that. The Nuggets are simply the better team. Their stars are better – at least when it matters most. The rest of their starters are better. Their bench is better. Their coaching and adjustments are better. They are definitely better than the Lakers.
How much better they are is debatable. Six of these losses have been forgotten. The Lakers could have realistically won at least three or four. In an alternate universe, the Lakers are 3-7 or 4-6 against the Nuggets during this stretch, and it’s viewed in a less one-sided way. But in this universe, the Nuggets have the Lakers’ number for the foreseeable future and Los Angeles really can’t do anything about it — at least not this season.
Game 2 started with such promise. Davis played one of the best halves of his career, scoring at will on the Nuggets and locking down Jokić, who he switched on. A day after Davis was left out of the finalists for the 2023-24 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award, Davis not only showed why he should have been among the finalists for the award, but also why he is simply l one of the best players in the NBA. world.
Russell slayed his playoff demons, at least for one game, scoring 18 points in the first half, including six 3s. He picked up where he left off, taking the second-most shots behind Davis. As a team, the Lakers made eight 3-pointers, matching their total from Game 1.
They led by 15 at halftime. They scored on three of their first four offensive possessions in the second half, extending their lead to 20.
Then everything fell apart.
“A 20-point lead in this league is not a sure thing, especially against the defending champion,” James said. “We have to do better. But we had our chances.
The Lakers had great success targeting Jokić, who was defending Davis, in the pick-and-roll. James was able to go down on him and either score, hit Davis, or kick out the shooters. Denver eventually responded, moving Kentavious Caldwell-Pope from Russell to James, Aaron Gordon from James to Davis and Jokić from Davis to Hachimura. The Lakers continued to target Jokić with Hachimura as a screen, but it wasn’t as effective.
Over the final 22 minutes, the Lakers were outscored 53-31. They shot 36.4 percent and made just 12 shots. They had more turnovers (six) than assists (four). Their attack collapsed. Davis finished with 32 points, failing to score in the final 19 minutes, and 11 rebounds. Russell only scored five points in the second half, for a total of 23 in total. James scored 16 of his 26 points in the second half, including 12 in the fourth quarter. He added eight rebounds and 12 assists.
Meanwhile, the Nuggets shot 53.8 percent and made 21 shots. They dominated the glass (23 to 15), only turned the ball over twice and dominated LA at the free throw line (9 of 11 to 3 of 5).
After missing 13 of his first 16 shots, Murray scored 14 points in the fourth quarter to finish with 20 points. Jokić had a triple-double with 27 points, 20 rebounds and 10 assists. The two combined for 15 points and 6-of-6 shooting over the final 4:25. Denver finished the game hitting its final seven field goal attempts.
The Lakers tried to reverse the Jokić-Murray matchup with Davis and James in the final minute, but it didn’t work. Nothing really goes for the Lakers against those. They were unstoppable, especially in the most important moments.
Now, facing a colossal deficit against an opponent convinced that no lead is safe against them, the Lakers return to Los Angeles and try to pick up the pieces. It’s unclear what adjustments they can make, other than tightening their rotation — their bench has been invisible and dominated by Denver’s — and continuing to fine-tune their coverages against Jokić. Davis and James should dedicate the entire game to him, as taxing as it may be. The Lakers will also need to find a counter to the Gordon-Jokić-Caldwell-Pope defensive fit.
In a vacuum, the Nuggets took care of business at home, and now the pressure has shifted to the Lakers to win their home games and tie the series. But playoffs aren’t played without context, and the context is that the Lakers lost 10 straight to the Nuggets and had their hearts ripped out.
Davis, the locker room truth-teller, was upbeat for Game 3 while simultaneously criticizing the team’s mental lapses at this point in the season, one indictment at a time against Ham, his team coaches and players.
“We showed that we are more than capable,” Davis said. “There are times when we just don’t know what we’re doing on both ends of the floor. And these are the ones that cost us dearly. So we have two days to get it right and be ready to win game three on Thursday.
James, who has played more games and minutes than any player in NBA history, has seen it all in his 21 seasons. He is unfazed by the 2-0 deficit, which is an important first step towards a series return.
But even James, arguably the greatest player and thinker of all time, admitted he was still trying to solve the seemingly insoluble puzzle that is the Nuggets.
“Protect the house,” James said of the mentality needed for a comeback. “That’s where my mindset is going. And obviously the only game that matters now is Game 3 and how we can improve. How can we understand this team.
The Lakers are getting closer, which, if recent history of this game is anything to go by, means more heartbreak is likely around the corner.
(Photo: AAron Ontiveroz/Getty Images)