Oct 15, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers ahead Anthony Davis (3) shoots a free-throw in opposition to the Milwaukee Bucks within the second quarter at Crypto.com Enviornment. Obligatory Credit score: Jonathan Hui-Imagn Photos A primary-round playoff matchup from a season in the past will get a rewind Saturday when the Los Angeles Lakers host the Denver Nuggets.
The defending champions on the time, the Nuggets proved to be an excessive amount of to deal with and delivered a 4-1 sequence victory over the Lakers earlier than they had been eradicated within the Western Convention semifinals by the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Los Angeles will do its greatest to look ahead since a look backward additionally reveals a heartbreaking 119-118 residence defeat to the Orlando Magic on Thursday. The Lakers solved the Magic’s tight protection however could not outmaneuver the free-throw line by going 3 of 9 within the fourth quarter.
Lakers star Anthony Davis was 1 for 4 from the free-throw line within the last 27.1 seconds and LeBron James missed a foul shot with 39.1 seconds left. Austin Reaves missed a pair with 3:40 remaining.
Davis scored 39 factors however his three misses in 13 makes an attempt from the road loomed largest. James scored 31 factors with 10 rebounds and 7 assists.
Afterward, Lakers head coach JJ Redick mentioned he was headed for a “very darkish place” earlier than clarifying he meant his basement to observe a video of the way it all acquired away.
“Each loss is irritating,” Redick mentioned. “There’s sure losses that you may level to an absence of — I do not wish to name it an absence of effort — however like an absence of will and competitiveness and physicality to start out a recreation and you then’re having to battle that. Frankly, it swung on our missed free throws.”
The loss was the Lakers’ first at residence in eight video games and it ended a six-game successful streak. Now comes a matchup in opposition to the Nuggets, who they beat simply as soon as in seven video games within the common season and playoffs final marketing campaign.
Denver will likely be on the second night time of a back-to-back after a 123-120 residence loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Friday.
There was some uplifting information with the return of Nikola Jokic, who missed the earlier three video games after the delivery of his little one. Jokic marked the second with 33 factors, 17 rebounds and 10 assists for his fifth consecutive triple-double and seventh on the season.
“I simply felt a whole lot of guys exhaled as a result of Nikola was again and anticipated Superman to hold the day,” Nuggets head coach Michael Malone mentioned. “That is not honest. Do your personal job. Nikola confirmed, as soon as once more, why he is the very best participant on the planet. Misses every week of basketball and goes out and will get a triple-double.”
The Nuggets have misplaced three of their previous 4 video games after falling 3 times of their first 10 video games of the season. They enter Friday’s recreation after shedding three of their previous 4 on the street.
In opposition to the Mavericks, Christian Braun and Michael Porter Jr. every scored 17 factors for Denver, who fell to 1-1 in West: Group C play of the NBA Cup. The Nuggets’ loss allowed the Golden State Warriors to win the group.
Jokic has been a drive once more this season with averages of 30 factors, 14 rebounds and 11.5 factors. The three-time MVP is also capturing a spectacular 58.5 % from 3-point vary in 41 makes an attempt.
Denver has gained on the second night time of a back-to-back on each events this season, most lately a 129-103 residence victory over the Utah Jazz on Nov. 2.
–Area Stage Media
