Lakers fall flat against Nuggets in Game 3, on brink of being swept again
Anthony Davis and LeBron James fill the stat sheet, but D'Angelo Russell goes scoreless and Denver is the better second-half team again, beating the Lakers for the 11th consecutive time, 112-105
Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon drives through Lakers guards Austin Reaves, left, and Spencer Dinwiddie on his way to the basket during the first half of Game 3 of their first-round playoff series on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. Gordon had 29 points and 15 rebounds to lead the Nuggets to a 112-105 win and a 3-0 series lead. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Lakers star LeBron James looks for a way around the Denver Nuggets’ Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, center, and Jamal Murray, right, during the first half of Game 3 of their first-round playoff series on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Lakers star Anthony Davis dunks the ball in front of Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic during the first half of Game 3 of their first-round playoff series on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic drives down the court followed by Lakers star LeBron James during the first half of Game 3 of their first-round playoff series on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Lakers guard Austin Reaves grabs a rebound as the Denver Nuggets’ Aaron Gordon, right, and Peyton Watson defend during the first half of Game 3 of their first-round playoff series on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) shoots against Lakers guard Gabe Vincent (7) during the first half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series in Los Angeles, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Lakers forward LeBron James (23) shoots against Denver Nuggets forward Peyton Watson (8) and forward Justin Holiday (9) during the first half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series in Los Angeles, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) defends against Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) during the first half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series in Los Angeles, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon (50) dunks during the first half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Lakers in Los Angeles, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Lakers coach Darvin Ham watches from the sideline during the first half of Game 3 of their first-round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Lakers star LeBron James tries to muscle his way to the basket through the Denver Nuggets’ Jamal Murray, top, and Peyton Watson, right, during the first half of Game 3 of their first-round playoff series on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon (50) shoots against Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) during the first half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series in Los Angeles, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. (1) shoots against Lakers forward Rui Hachimura (28) during the first half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series in Los Angeles, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Lakers forward LeBron James (23) dunks during the first half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets in Los Angeles, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Lakers forward LeBron James (23) dunks during the first half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets in Los Angeles, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Lakers forwards Anthony Davis (3) and LeBron James (23) defend against Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic during the first half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series in Los Angeles, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Lakers forward LeBron James (23) disputes a foul call with referee Marc Davis (8) during the first half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets in Los Angeles, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon, left, is fouled by Lakers guard Austin Reaves as he looks to shoot during the first half of Game 3 of their first-round playoff series on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Denver Nuggets forward Peyton Watson (8) fouls Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) during the first half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series in Los Angeles, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray looks to shoot as Lakers star LeBron James, center, and guard Austin Reaves defend during the first half of Game 3 of their first-round playoff series on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Lakers guard Austin Reaves gets to the basket for a layup during the first half of Game 3 of their first-round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon loses the ball on his way to the basket as the Lakers’ LeBron James, left, and D’Angelo Russell defend during the first half of Game 3 of their first-round playoff series on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) shoots during the first half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets in Los Angeles, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon drives through Lakers guards Austin Reaves, left, and Spencer Dinwiddie on his way to the basket during the first half of Game 3 of their first-round playoff series on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. Gordon had 29 points and 15 rebounds to lead the Nuggets to a 112-105 win and a 3-0 series lead. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Lakers forward Rui Hachimura (28) shoots during the first half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets in Los Angeles, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Denver Nuggets guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, right, is fouled by Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell during the first half of Game 3 of their first-round playoff series on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) shoots during the first half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets in Los Angeles, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Denver Nuggets guard Reggie Jackson (7) shoots against Lakers forward Rui Hachimura (28) during the first half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series in Los Angeles, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray , right, tries to drive around Lakers guard Gabe Vincent during the first half of Game 3 of their first-round playoff series on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic shoots over Lakers guard Austin Reaves during the first half of Game 3 of their first-round playoff series on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Lakers forward Rui Hachimura (28) defends against Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) during the first half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series in Los Angeles, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) dunks during the first half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Lakers in Los Angeles, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Lakers forward LeBron James (23) shoots during the first half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets in Los Angeles, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Lakers star Anthony Davis is fouled by Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, back, during the fourth quarter of Game 3 of their first-round playoff series on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) shoots against Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series in Los Angeles, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Lakers star LeBron James, right, is fouled by the Denver Nuggets’ Christian Braun, left, during the second half of Game 3 of their first-round playoff series on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Lakers guard Spencer Dinwiddie drives to the basket as Denver Nuggets guard Christian Braun defends during the fourth quarter of Game 3 of their first-round playoff series on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Lakers star Anthony Davis, right, is fouled by Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic during the second half of Game 3 of their first-round playoff series on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Lakers star LeBron James shoots as the Denver Nuggets’ Peyton Watson defends during the fourth quarter of Game 3 of their first-round playoff series on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) shoots against Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series in Los Angeles, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) shoots against Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series in Los Angeles, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Lakers star Anthony Davis takes a shot during the second half of Game 3 of their first-round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic shoots as Lakers star Anthony Davis defends during the fourth quarter of Game 3 of their first-round playoff series on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Lakers star Anthony Davis takes a shot in front of Denver Nuggets guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, left, during the second half of Game 3 of their first-round playoff series on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, right, whips the ball past Lakers guard Austin Reaves, center, to teammate Jamal Murray during the fourth quarter of Game 3 of their first-round playoff series on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Denver Nuggets guard Christian Braun (0) defends against Lakers guard Spencer Dinwiddie (26) during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series in Los Angeles, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Lakers forward LeBron James (23) controls the ball against Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon (50) during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series in Los Angeles, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr., left, and Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell, center reach for a rebound during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series in Los Angeles, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. (1) shoots against Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series in Los Angeles, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Lakers forward LeBron James (23) shoots against Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon (50) during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series in Los Angeles, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Lakers star LeBron James takes the court for the fourth quarter of Game 3 of their first-round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Lakers star LeBron James takes a shot in front of Denver Nuggets guards Jamal Murray, right, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope during the second half of Game 3 of their first-round playoff series on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Lakers star LeBron James drives to the basket as Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, left, and forward Aaron Gordon, right, defend during the fourth quarter of Game 3 of their first-round playoff series on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) defends against Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series in Los Angeles, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Lakers forward Taurean Prince (12) shoots against Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) and guard Jamal Murray (27) during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series in Los Angeles, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) falls on top of Lakers forward LeBron James (23) during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series in Los Angeles, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Lakers star LeBron James expresses his frustration with the officials after he thought he was fouled during the fourth quarter of Game 3 of their first-round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) shoots against Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon (50) and guard Christian Braun (0) during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series in Los Angeles, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon, left, high-fives guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Lakers in Los Angeles, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Lakers star Anthony Davis takes a shot as Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic defends during the second half of Game 3 of their first-round playoff series on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) shoots against Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series in Los Angeles, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15), forward Taurean Prince (12), and Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) reach for a loose ball during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series in Los Angeles, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray takes a shot as Lakers forward Rui Hachimura defends during the second half of Game 3 of their first-round playoff series on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) shoots during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets in Los Angeles, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon (50) defends against Lakers forward LeBron James (23) during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series in Los Angeles, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Lakers star Anthony Davis looks for a teammate to pass the ball to as Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. defends during the fourth quarter of Game 3 of their first-round playoff series on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Lakers guard Austin Reaves flips the ball over his shoulder to pass it to a teammate as Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, left, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope defend during the fourth quarter of Game 3 of their first-round playoff series on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Lakers star Anthony Davis takes a shot as the Denver Nuggets’ Michael Porter Jr., left, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope look on during the second half of Game 3 of their first-round playoff series on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) shoots against Lakers forward LeBron James (23) during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series in Los Angeles, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Lakers star LeBron James, right, takes a shot as Denver Nuggets guards Reggie Jackson, left, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope defend during the second half of Game 3 of their first-round playoff series on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. takes a shot as Lakers forward Rui Hachimura defends during the second half of Game 3 of their first-round playoff series on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Players on the Lakers’ bench watch the clock run down during the fourth quarter of Game 3 of their first-round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Lakers star LeBron James takes a shot in front of Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon during the second half of Game 3 of their first-round playoff series on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray takes a shot as Lakers star LeBron James looks away during the second half of Game 3 of their first-round playoff series on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Lakers forward Rui Hachimura (28) shoots against Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series in Los Angeles, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon (50) dunks during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Lakers in Los Angeles, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic takes a shot in front of Lakers star Anthony Davis during the second half of Game 3 of their first-round playoff series on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Lakers guard Austin Reaves watches the clock run down during the fourth quarter of Game 3 of their first-round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) shoots against Lakers forward LeBron James (23) during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series in Los Angeles, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Players on the Lakers’ bench watch the clock run down during the fourth quarter of Game 3 of their first-round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Lakers stars LeBron James, center, and Anthony Davis, right, listen to the National Anthem before the start of Game 3 of their first-round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
The Lakers’ Anthony Davis and the Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic take part in the opening tip-off during Game 3 of their first-round playoff series on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Musician and longtime Lakers fan Flea attends Game 3 of the first-round playoff series between the Lakers and the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Fans watch as Lakers star LeBron James (23) throws rosin in the air before Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets in Los Angeles, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
LOS ANGELES — For all of the talk about adjustments and what the Lakers needed to do between Monday’s Game 2 loss in Denver and Thursday night’s Game 3 at Crypto.com Arena to keep themselves from falling into an even deeper hole in their first-round playoff series, LeBron James’ message was simple.
“There’s only so much we can talk about,” the star forward said after the team’s Wednesday practice in El Segundo. “We got to go out and be about it too.
“So all the conversations and talk, ‘OK, we got to do this, we got to do this,’ but we got to go out on the floor and actually make it happen.”
Even if the message was heard, the follow-through was lacking on Thursday night, with the Lakers falling to the Nuggets again, 112-105 – a death knell to the Lakers’ season since NBA teams that fall behind 3-0 in a playoff series have ultimately been eliminated in all 151 of those series.
Only four teams have rallied from a 3-0 deficit to even extend the series to a winner-take-all Game 7.
Game 4 is Saturday night at Crypto.com Arena.
“It’s as simple as win or go home,” Coach Darvin Ham said postgame. “It’s as simple as that. We’ve got to come with competitive pride. Try to get one here and stay alive. It’s one game at a time. That’s all we have is the next game. And so that’s all we should be concerned with, coming in here Saturday, having competitive pride, try to put this thing together and get us one.”
For as much as the Lakers talked about flipping the script after similar losses in Games 1 and 2, Game 3 unfolded in similar fashion, with the play of Anthony Davis (33 points, 15 rebounds), James (26 points, nine assists, six rebounds) and Austin Reaves (22 points, five rebounds, three assists) not being enough to get the Lakers over the hump against the defending NBA champs, who beat them for the 11th consecutive time (seven of those in the playoffs).
The Lakers haven’t beaten the Nuggets since Dec. 16, 2022.
Aaron Gordon had 29 points and 15 rebounds – the highest-scoring playoff game of his 10 NBA seasons – and Nikola Jokic just missed his 17th career postseason triple-double (24 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists) to pace the Nuggets. Jamal Murray scored 22 points and Michael Porter Jr. added 20.
“They have a championship confidence,” Ham said of the Nuggets. “That starting group has been together for a long time. Their net rating is off the charts as a starting group. They had guys step up and make plays.”
The Lakers surged into the postseason with largely outstanding play since Feb. 1, capped by an impressive play-in game victory over New Orleans to secure the seventh seed.
But the Nuggets are the same nightmare matchup for the Lakers – or any opponent, really – that they were a year ago in the conference finals.
“Our focus and our mental right now is just trying to get one,” Davis said. “Trying to get a game and then go from there. Try to get a game on Saturday, Game 4. And go from there.
“However many straight [we lost], we can’t focus on that. Our focus is trying to better from [Thursday], learn from our mistakes and try to get a win on Saturday. We can’t do anything about it. It’s in the past.”
The Lakers missed 15 of their first 16 3-point attempts in Game 3, going nearly 34 minutes between 3-point baskets.
D’Angelo Russell went scoreless in 24 minutes of play for the Lakers, who got only two assists out of their inconsistent third option on offense. Russell missed all seven of his shots, including six 3-point attempts. He declined to speak to the media postgame.
“It’s unfortunate man,” Ham said. “He had some good looks that he just didn’t knock down. It’s as simple as that. Similar to Game 1. He was able to bounce back in Game 2 and I expect him to bounce back in Game 4.”
A matchup with Denver and its tenacious veteran core is challenging even with the Lakers’ regulars all playing well, and Russell’s disappearing act was compounded by another quiet game from starter Rui Hachimura, who had only five points while taking four shots in 28 minutes.
The Lakers, as they did in the series’ first two games, had the early advantage, taking a 33-22 lead into the second quarter after pushing the ball in transition and playing with great pace in the halfcourt.
The Lakers still led, 53-49, at halftime, but the Nuggets did what they’ve done the entire series: dominate the Lakers in the third quarter.
Denver turned its small halftime deficit into a 10-point lead with a 24-10 run to begin the quarter led by Gordon and Murray, who combined for 19 points in the third. When it was over the Nuggets had outscored the Lakers 34-22 in the period to take an 83-75 lead into the fourth.
“We spend so much energy in the first half building leads or the defensive intensity that we have that we come out in the third quarter with not much energy or we can kind of lose track of rotations and detail that we had in the first half,” James said. “A lot of that played into it. And you give credit where credit is due with Denver. Those guys make tough shot after tough shot after tough shot. There’s a lot of things that happened in the third [Thursday].”
The Nuggets have won all three third quarters in this series by a combined score of 91-60, accounting for the bulk of their 42-point advantage in the second halves.
“Our third quarters [have] been atrocious,” Reaves said. “If we want to fight our way back into this one, Saturday we obviously have to be good for all quarters, but that third quarter especially.”
Outside of Davis and James, the Lakers didn’t find any answers to a team that clearly has their number.
There was more bench production offensively, with Gabe Vincent and Spencer Dinwiddie scoring their first points of the series.
But the Lakers couldn’t make up for their poor shot-making, shooting 18.5% from 3-point range (5 for 27). They went from the 5:24 mark in the first quarter to the 7:59 mark in the fourth without making a shot from behind the arc.
The Nuggets shot poorly from the perimeter too (17.9%, 5 for 28), but once again took advantage of the Lakers on the offensive glass, scoring 19 second-chance points off of 14 offensive rebounds.
“Sometimes it’s the guards on bigger guys,” Davis said. “But other times, it’s just simple boxing out or just going to get it. There were times today where guys missed shots and got their own rebound. Everyone is anticipating the other guy going to get it instead of one of us going to get it. That’s where a lot of the rebounds come from.”
After blowing a 20-point lead in the second half of Game 2, the Lakers were left feeling frustrated, outmanned – and occasionally confused, according to Davis, who said the Lakers sometimes don’t know what they’re doing when faced with Denver’s offensive versatility.
None of those problems were alleviated in Game 3, and now the Lakers are one loss away from the end of James’ remarkable 21st NBA season.
“It’s one game at a time, at this point,” James said. “And you lose, you go home. So we’re gonna come in with the mindset of, ‘Let’s get one.’ Force a Game 5 and then we go from there. So as long as you still have life, then you always have belief.
“You play until the wheels fall off. That’s what it’s always about for me. It’s a mindset and I know this man sitting next to me [Davis] feels the same way.”
LeBron James: "It's one game at a time at this point… As long as you still have life, then you always have belief, you play until the wheels fall off. That's what it's always about for me as a mindset” pic.twitter.com/AhN6Crj8d9
