Dominated for the third time in as many matches in this first round of Western Conference play-offs against the Denver Nuggets (112-105), the Los Angeles Lakers are now down 3 wins to 0, a situation that no team managed to overthrow in NBA history.
The Crypto.com Arena, however, quickly felt that its Lakers had recovered from Monday’s frustrating defeat (101-99). LeBron James and his team started with an 8-0 and crazy energy. Interceptions, dunks, a determined Anthony Davis (10 points in twelve minutes) and two fouls caused on Nikola Jokic in an explosive first period, concluded at 33-23 in favor of the evening hosts.
Denver held on thanks to the fierce and always so valuable Aaron Gordon (29 points, 15 rebounds), holding the defense, leading the attack and catching the mistakes of the players in blue on both sides of the field.
But these Nuggets never give the impression of panicking and even average in the first half (2/15 at three points), Jamal Murray’s teammates, without brilliance at the start of the match, were blowing on the back of the Lakers’ necks in the middle. -time (53-49).
Michael Cooper inducted
Discouraging for the “Purple and Gold” in view of the efforts made but after ten defeats in a row against the reigning champion, they know better than anyone how Denver knows how to stick to the coattails of its opponents. The trend was confirmed upon resumption, a few minutes after the five-star tribute paid to Michael “Minister of Defense” Cooper, five-time NBA champion, soon to be inducted into the Hall of Fame and accompanied on the floor by his companions from the Showtime era (5 titles and 9 finals between 1979 and 1991), Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy and the others.
Los Angeles stubbornly shooting from afar (three missed shots in a row from D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves then Rui Hachimura), it was Michael Porter Jr, the only player on the floor determined to take more than one shot behind the arc (20 points, 10 rebounds) which put their team in front (58-55) for the first time in the match after 26 minutes of play. Behind, the Nuggets confirmed their ability to score the baskets which are hurting, Murray in particular, the assassin from mid-distance (22 points, 9 assists).
Davis (33 points, 15 rebounds), not really harassed by Jokic in defense because of his three fouls, accelerated again at the end of the quarter to limit the damage (83-75). But with D’Angelo Russell, useless (0 points, 0/6 from distance) and LeBron James, almost ordinary by his standards (26 points, 6 rebounds, 9 assists) while Denver had four players from its major five at 20 points or more (Jokic finished with 24 points, 15 rebounds, 9 assists), the hope of a comeback did not last. At 101-89 with 3’06 remaining, the room began to empty. It will fill up again on Saturday but the Lakers will play there more for honor than anything else.
2024-04-26 17:38:45
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