In the fourth quarter, with LeBron James allowing Nikola Jokic to drive towards the basket and Anthony Davis slumped with his hands on his knees, the Los Angeles Lakers were losing the game. After giving it their all, their superstars—James with 27 points and 8 assists, and Davis with 32 points and 14 rebounds—were worn out. With yet another outstanding postseason performance, James turned back the clock, and Davis was at the peak of his game. however, the Denver Nuggets still outplayed the Lakers, 114-103.

At the half, the defending NBA champions were down, and the Lakers needed a big victory in Denver to turn the series around. However, the Nuggets depended on their secondary and had the endurance to continue, much like they did the previous season, while the Lakers ran out of gas and suffered the effects of an older group.

James is over forty years old, Davis is only thirty-one but has a history of physical problems, and D’Angelo Russell’s desperation at the end was a perfect example of Los Angeles’s empty gas tank. Before he retires, James would like to win one more NBA championship, but he could have to go elsewhere in the offseason if the Lakers are unable to turn things around in this series.

The Lakers were punished by Jokic, Aaron Gordon, Jamaal Murray, and the Denver heroes from the previous campaign. Even if they weren’t the best in the first half, Los Angeles couldn’t contain their energy. When James left the court, the gifted Michael Porter Jr. appeared intimidated. Porter Jr. also had a game to remember.

“This is a large squad. MPJ, Jоker, and Aaron Gordon make up a formidable front court for them,” James remarked following the match. “We just gotta do a better job of trying to get hits and collectively rebound the defensive glass.”

Even though the Lakers knew the game was over with a minute remaining in the fourth, their biggest players’ body language raised alarms. Russell had a chance to support their endeavors and help them win the game, but he missed 13 of his last 16 shots.

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Even so, he finished the game with 13 points, but in the latter minutes, he lost his mind. Russell remarked, “I meаn, I can’t be mаd.” “I can’t remember when I last had twenty shots. Therefore, it wasn’t twenty “good” looks that I received; perhaps five or six of them were dubious.

“I am aware of my abilities. To be honest, I’m thrilled. I’m thrilled about it. Despite a significant lost chance, Lakers head coach Darvin Ham remained upbeat and refused to place any blame on Russell, instead motivating him to keep moving forward.

Lakers coach Darvin Ham stated, “D-Lo is a huge reason why we’re here in the first place.” “Just because my player isn’t making the shots he usually does doesn’t meаn I’m going to give up on him. In order to help us get to this point, the identical shots were made against New Orleans [in the play-in tournament] and in earlier games that he has participated in. Thus, it was simply not his night.”