New season, same result: Lakers lose to Nuggets after third-quarter collapse

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic puts up a shot in front of Lakers forward Anthony Davis during the first half of the Lakers’ 127-102 loss Saturday at Crypto.com Arena. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)

This has been more than a bad matchup; it’s been nearly a guarantee.

After being swept in the 2023 Western Conference finals, the Lakers added size and muscle while building around an existing core to try to match the Denver Nuggets a season later.

Those changes ended up mattering so little, Denver winning all four regular-season meetings and losing just once in the first-round playoff series between the teams last season. That defeat led to the Lakers making another change, this one on the sideline, with JJ Redick replacing Darvin Ham as coach.

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And entering Saturday’s first game with Denver this season, the Lakers looked like a team that had righted some of its wrongs. They would, undoubtedly, be more prepared for what Denver was going to throw at them, after that had been a concern players voiced privately last season. They would, undoubtedly, play with confidence despite a ghastly late loss to Orlando on Thursday after a barrage of missed free throws in the final minutes.

They were getting back a starter, Rui Hachimura, and the Nuggets would again be without one of theirs, Aaron Gordon. And, because Denver played Friday night, the Lakers would be the more energetic team with everything to prove against a foe that has just dominated them.

Too much had changed for it to somehow remain the same. Right?

Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell hits Denver Nuggets guard Julian Strawther in the face as he grabs a rebound in the first half Saturday. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)

But as Anthony Davis slumped after missing a floater over Nikola Jokic during a disastrous third quarter, and the Nuggets raced back up the floor, the stench of familiarity filled the Lakers’ home arena.

Everyone was right to be concerned as the Lakers looked lifeless — the Nuggets were on a roll in a 127-102 win and the Lakers, of all teams,…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/season-same-result-lakers-lose-055946706.html

Author : LA Times

Publish date : 2024-11-24 05:59:00

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