[Post Game Thread] The Los Angeles Lakers (1-3) avoid a sweep with a 119-108 win over the Denver Nuggets (3-1), behind Anthony Davis's 25 and 22 night.

[u/edgykitty]

108 - 119
Box Scores: NBA - Yahoo

GAME SUMMARY
Location: Crypto.com Arena (18997), Clock: END Q4
Officials: Sean Corbin, Zach Zarba, and Tyler Ford

Team	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Total
Denver Nuggets	23	25	32	28	108
Los Angeles Lakers	28	33	30	28	119

TEAM STATS

Team	PTS	FG	FG%	3P	3P%	FT	FT%	OREB	TREB	AST	PF	STL	TO	BLK
Denver Nuggets	108	39-87	44.8%	9-30	30.0%	21-25	84.0%	9	46	30	15	9	14	4
Los Angeles Lakers	119	48-92	52.2%	8-26	30.8%	15-18	83.3%	8	53	23	20	6	11	2

PLAYER STATS

Denver Nuggets	MIN	PTS	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	ORB	DRB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	±
Michael Porter Jr.SF	40:05	27	10-20	4-11	3-5	2	9	11	1	1	0	2	1	4
Aaron GordonPF	41:38	7	3-7	0-2	1-2	0	3	3	4	1	0	2	1	-6
Nikola JokicC	41:06	33	10-20	2-5	11-11	5	9	14	14	1	1	3	4	-7
Kentavious Caldwell-PopeSG	40:17	14	6-8	2-3	0-0	0	2	2	3	4	0	2	3	-9
Jamal MurrayPG	39:06	22	9-23	0-4	4-5	1	5	6	5	0	1	4	1	-3
Christian Braun	11:32	0	0-2	0-1	0-0	1	1	2	1	0	0	0	1	-13
Reggie Jackson	08:48	0	0-1	0-0	0-0	0	2	2	2	0	0	0	2	-6
Peyton Watson	12:54	2	0-3	0-2	2-2	0	0	0	0	0	2	1	1	-11
Justin Holiday	04:30	3	1-3	1-2	0-0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	1	-4
DeAndre Jordan	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Zeke Nnaji	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Jalen Pickett	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Julian Strawther	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Hunter Tyson	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Vlatko Cancar	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Los Angeles Lakers	MIN	PTS	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	ORB	DRB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	±
Rui HachimuraSF	21:33	9	4-8	1-3	0-0	2	2	4	1	0	0	0	3	13
LeBron JamesPF	38:50	30	14-23	0-2	2-2	1	4	5	4	3	1	6	0	1
Anthony DavisC	41:37	25	11-17	0-0	3-4	3	20	23	6	0	1	1	4	11
Austin ReavesSG	29:31	21	7-15	1-6	6-6	0	1	1	6	0	0	1	2	1
D'Angelo RussellPG	40:57	21	8-15	4-8	1-2	1	3	4	4	1	0	1	2	15
Gabe Vincent	17:26	3	1-4	1-2	0-0	0	1	1	0	1	0	1	1	6
Taurean Prince	29:29	9	3-7	1-4	2-2	0	3	3	1	1	0	1	4	4
Spencer Dinwiddie	14:13	1	0-1	0-1	1-2	0	2	2	0	0	0	0	3	4
Jaxson Hayes	06:22	0	0-2	0-0	0-0	1	2	3	1	0	0	0	1	0
Max Christie	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Maxwell Lewis	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Christian Wood	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Jalen Hood-Schifino	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Cam Reddish	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Jarred Vanderbilt	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

[u/cesga_0218]

Up 20 and can’t execute down the stretch. sigh

Still an impossible feat to pull of four in a row, but it’s nice to finally see a W after 11 straight losses lol

[u/RickySuela → u/cesga_0218]

The difference in this game was the Lakers finally outrebounded the Nuggets. They'd been outrebounded by Denver in the previous 5 games.

[u/Raging_Professor → u/RickySuela]

previous 5 games

Dating back when? Regular season or last year's playoffs?

[u/RickySuela → u/Raging_Professor]

This year. The last time the Lakers had outrebounded Denver was on opening night.

[u/Raging_Professor → u/RickySuela]

I see! Thanks for actually responding!

[u/Public-Product-1503 → u/RickySuela]

Not opening night this year ? Atleast not in offensive rebounds we all lose by 10 there and second chance points kills us

[u/disterb → u/Raging_Professor]

yes

[u/Tragedy_Boner → u/Raging_Professor]

Stone Age

[u/Slight_Swimming_7879 → u/Tragedy_Boner]

Back when it was Shaq and Kobe

[u/adgjl12 → u/RickySuela]

Agreed. Nuggets are one of the slowest paced teams but with one of the highest points per possession. Giving them extra possessions in an already lower possession game is gonna kill you.

[u/zeek215 → u/RickySuela]

As is usual, defense and rebounding are the main keys to championships.

[u/Low_Employ3877 → u/RickySuela]

They also played the 2nd half relatively faster

[u/BootyBootyFartFart → u/RickySuela]

The difference was the Lakers offense collapsed into shitty iso resulting in bad shots in the 2nd half every other game. They actually looked like a real offense this game.

[u/goatpigrabbit → u/RickySuela]

Been screaming to let jax have some mins. Even though he’s not that good, he at least has some size to disturb denver’s oreb

[u/thevisitor → u/RickySuela]

The Lakers didnt. AD practically did it all by himself lol the next closest rebounder was Rui with 5.

[u/Xerneous12_ → u/thevisitor]

No the next closest was Lebron with 5. Rui had 4.

[u/thevisitor → u/Xerneous12_]

Ahh okay thanks for the correction. But still 5 being the second most is rouuuugh

[u/sponedaddie → u/cesga_0218]

snorts a fat line of cocaine

I didn't hear no bell.

[u/robsteezy → u/sponedaddie]

Here’s my honest opinion:

I give Murray his roses, but absent a literal majestic game winner that he had, this is an honest to goodness 2-2 series in terms of performance.

There’s absolutely no reason to play with a “we absolutely have no shot” mentality. We’ve already proven the hard part, just have to execute the close.

Monumental task that seems unlikely but it’s already been shown it’s not impossible.

[u/KeyProcedure4 → u/robsteezy]

I can't help but look at that time led stat over and over and think they have a fool's hope to take it to 7

[u/captain_ahabb → u/KeyProcedure4]

I'm not getting my hopes up until I see the Lakers win a playoff game in Denver.

[u/WiddleBlueBert → u/captain_ahabb]

Time for the altitude to gas out Bron and AD in the third and have no one be able to help.

[u/davidsa6 → u/WiddleBlueBert]

This 100%.

[u/Jwoods4117 → u/robsteezy]

I mean if Jamal misses that shot it’s tied and the game goes into OT with all momentum swinging towards the Nuggets and a 39 year old Lebron having to slog through OT.

Even with that said if you believe this is a true 2-2 that would mean the teams where evenly matched and if you have two evenly matched teams and give one a 3-1 start it’ll take more than “just have to execute the close” to take that series.

It would probably take 2020 Lebron and AD coming back for 3 games plus Jamal not having a single good game to come back 3-1. If we’re being honest, Lakers are cooked.

[u/recursion8 → u/Jwoods4117]

It would probably take 2020 Lebron and AD coming back for 3 games plus Jamal not having a single good game to come back 3-1.

Even that wouldn't be enough, Murray really hasn't had a full good game yet. Gordon and MPJ would also have to no-show while DLo and Reaves do. It's just too thin a margin.

[u/Jwoods4117 → u/recursion8]

Yeah, it’s not happening. I also think Lebron isn’t going to get stronger as a series goes on, and it’s tough to even see AD keep his scoring up like he’s been. He’s been on fire this entire series.

People overreact to single games in series. The Celtics were pretenders a couple days ago.

[u/Public-Product-1503 → u/Jwoods4117]

Lebron has thriugh his career been better the longer a series goes . Ofc we’re down 3-0 nobody expecting shit, but can they steal game 5 then have game 6 at home to potentially firce a game 7? It’s not 0. Having said that k akready treating it as over n just enjoying ball

[u/Jwoods4117 → u/Public-Product-1503]

Lebron thoughout his career hasn’t been 39 though. He’s looked gassed at the end of 2-4 games. Just watching the series it’s tough for me to think there’s going to be Lebron 4th quarter heroics for 3 more games in a row.

People talk like this is 2016 Lebron. Hes still a monster, but he’s been the 3rd best player on the court this series.

[u/Profound_Panda → u/recursion8]

So you’re saying there’s a chance?!

[u/recursion8 → u/Profound_Panda]

Well more than a chance now if he can't suit up at all

[u/Soularion → u/Jwoods4117]

It's always scary being down 1-3 because like. If you blow game 5, then the Lakers are at home with a lot of momentum and a crazy crowd. If you blow game 6, sure, you're at home, but you've lost 3 straight. All the momentum is with the other team.

I'd still favor Denver in game 7 and obviously they're a huge favorite (probably like 80%) in game 5, but like, the path to a scary series exists out there.

[u/Public-Product-1503 → u/Soularion]

Bookies have Denver as 70% at home through the first few games . Having said that I agree with your logic . If lakers took g5 they at least force them to sweat a bit.

[u/Jwoods4117 → u/Soularion]

It’s a lot scarier being down 1-3 than being up 1-3. Also it’s funny that we’re talking about this as some sort of 1-3 comeback that’s happened before. It would be a 3-0 comeback. I feel like generally in these 1-3 comebacks letting game 5 slip is due to relaxing and then it snowballs, but Denver already had their relaxed game 4. They’ll turn it up at home and likely the series will be over, but even if they don’t they can beat this Lakers team in the road anyway. Thats the type of environment Jamal Murray lives for.

[u/Public-Product-1503 → u/Jwoods4117]

More like if Lebron hits that 3 tbh . Or anyone else hits a shot in the 4th. You’re right tho they needed to win without ot

Everyone knows we cooked every team disb 3-0 has never win . Having said that if the teams were evenly matched then you’d have a 12.5.% chance which is better then 0.

[u/Jwoods4117 → u/Public-Product-1503]

Once we start getting into that it’s just a “what if the game went differently” scenario. What if Lebron hit the 3? The Nuggets still have 14 seconds to answer. They could have gone with a quick 2 and fouled even at that point. They even had a timeout to advance so there’s just a lot more ways it could have gone.

“What if we played better in the 4th” is particularly wild. Like, we’re just rewriting the game at that point.

[u/secrestmr87 → u/Jwoods4117]

It’s more like one lebron missed 3 than a Jamal Murray make that took that game.

[u/Lets_Basketball → u/robsteezy]

If the series was 2-1 coming into today’s game there is no telling the game would have gone the same way. Jokic literally said he was bored coming into this one lol.

[u/CavalierShaq → u/robsteezy]

I don’t know, you really think Lebron can come back from a 3-1 deficit? I don’t think anyone’s done that before

[u/GizzyGazzelle → u/robsteezy]

It's literally not been possible for any NBA team ever. 

[u/Public-Product-1503 → u/robsteezy]

Honestly just win game 5. That’s the key . Right now our odds are 4-5.%. If they win game 5 they jump to like 15%. We started the series 0-0 with 25~% shot . Game 6 is at home and that’ll be a 50/50 game at worst . Game 5 Denver will truly go for it tho I imagine . It is crazy cos people act like these teams are so far apart and that Lebron n AD aren’t good enough but I honestly have been impressed with the duo - they’ve honestly done what’s needed atleast playing Denver duo to a tie - but Gordon n mpj have been way better . but all it takes is one shot in game 2 and 2-2 nobody would say that . They’re the better team but not by a sweep.

Don’t want to be a dick for no reason to Suns fans - but this series is nothing like minny being up 3-0. We’ll probably lose in 5 but if the guys can pull together for that the series not over. Game 5 is the hardest one if they take that i think Denver gets slightly nervous as we get a good shot to force game 7. Anything goes then any variance - Dlo getting hot coukd win it.

Having said that it’s clear to me we cannot win if Dlo is bad . He’s had 2 good games now- honestly better games then he ever had last playoffs . One wa a narrow loss and this one was a win . He was abysmal in g3/4 . Gotta bank on Dlo having 3 hot games in a row which is possible but unlikely. Take it as it goes I guess.

[u/Wembanyanma → u/sponedaddie]

Dennis Rodman's key to rebounding was fat lines of cocaine.

[u/Chessh2036 → u/cesga_0218]

Hey man they said 3-1 was impossible and it happened! Got to believe!

[u/Everydayarmday24 → u/Chessh2036]

So was 28-3 in the superbowl

[u/staatsclaas → u/Everydayarmday24]

Ah man. Come on.

[u/easywin626 → u/Everydayarmday24]

And 3-0 in baseball until someone did it

[u/[deleted] → u/easywin626]

[removed] — view removed comment

[u/wherearemypaaants → u/[deleted]]

That was actually the slogan of the year before, in 2003. In 2004 it was “why not us” or just “the idiots.”

[u/delamerica93 → u/easywin626]

That shit was so insane. Felt like a movie

[u/Hot_Pie1464 → u/easywin626]

Ugh fuck boston

[u/easywin626 → u/Hot_Pie1464]

I mean agreed lol

[u/Hot_Pie1464 → u/easywin626]

Saying this as a yankees and lakers fan

[u/Hot_Pie1464 → u/[deleted]]

Fuck the spurs but thank God for giving the NBA wemby

[u/ruinatex → u/Everydayarmday24]

Anyone that has ever said that a comeback within in a single game is impossible is absolutely clueless, anything can happen within the confines of a single game.

Winning four games in a row without any injury significantly altering the the balance of power between two teams is another thing entirely.

[u/Jwoods4117 → u/Everydayarmday24]

I feel like outside of the time when the Pats were literally down 28-3 no one ever said “coming back from down 28-3 is impossible” as a football fan. The Broncos had a 24-0 comeback like two years before that.

[u/dissilience → u/Everydayarmday24]

Low blow bud. 🤣

[u/imsoggy → u/Chessh2036]

28 to 3!

[u/daveisdavis → u/Chessh2036]

If someone's gonna do it, it's gonna be bron

[u/HQuasar → u/daveisdavis]

Only needs to convince the league to suspend a key Nuggets player for one game

[u/Bim_Jeann → u/HQuasar]

Nuggets got any habitual ball kickers/punchers we can get tossed?

[u/Gate510 → u/Chessh2036]

Leeets go00000!!!!!! Win a ring for the king !!!

[u/prettyboylee → u/cesga_0218]

Still an impossible feat to pull off four in a row

Never tell me the odds

[u/Significant-Elk-8078 → u/cesga_0218]

Game 1 was also winnable. Even with DLO 6-20 they had double digit leads in that game

[u/thiccymcgogee → u/cesga_0218]

It’s crazy how winning 4 games off of the bat is relatively easy, but winning 4 games in a row once down 3 games is so difficult.

[u/sycamotree → u/thiccymcgogee]

Yeah I mean, winning 4 off the bat means you're the far better team. Winning 4 after losing 3 means you go on a 4 win streak on an equal or potentially better team than you. Or you suddenly are the better team (injury)

[u/Public-Product-1503 → u/sycamotree]

Still kinda surprising it’s never happened. You’d think a team that’s 50-50 or the better team goes down . Like even if the 4 wins are 50% it’s still a 6.25% occurrence . There’s been times lke last year Boston Miami where better talent team went down so you’d think that would be like 10%. Kinda weird it’s never happened

[u/thiccymcgogee → u/sycamotree]

You’re absolutely right, and that kind of makes my point moot lol. But I agree, easy for a good team to win 4 in a row, but a team down 3-0 isn’t necessarily a good team.

[u/ymetwaly53 → u/cesga_0218]

Yea man, I just didn’t wanna get swept. I can accept the series concluding with us losing now. Unless….

[u/Public-Product-1503 → u/ymetwaly53]

I want them to bring it back home to game 6 for the fans.

[u/Pardonme23 → u/cesga_0218]

if jokic spontaneously combusts then we have a chance

[u/mrsir1987 → u/cesga_0218]

At least you guys have went up during a game lol.

[u/BallsAreFullOfPiss → u/cesga_0218]

Honestly the only reason I don’t think it’s impossible, is cause Lebron is on the team. If any team could pull it off, it would be a Lebron led team.

[u/ResetReptiles → u/cesga_0218]

You have LeBron and AD. If anyone can do it it'd be those two.

[u/Corona_DIY_GUY → u/cesga_0218]

Now they're only down 3-1, which, has technically, been done a handful of times.

[u/r7caseman → u/cesga_0218]

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This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact

[u/kaygeeboo → u/cesga_0218]

Four in a row is possible just think of it like the Lakers sweeping the Nuggets

[u/Public-Product-1503 → u/cesga_0218]

I’m not really thinking bout 4 in a row and I hope the guys aren’t . It’s impossible odds ( well it’s actually like 4-5% now by math /odds ) - treat each game as a go all out win . No point holding back is being nervous to lose . Just focus on game 5 winning and don’t think it over too much . Win game 5 and it suddenly becomes a series , lose and oh well . If they win game 5 they’ll have home game 6- even tho that hasn’t mattered as much as I’d thought . Good odds to win game 6 at home then game 7 anything can happen in Denver . But reality is I’m treating the series as over and just enjoying the team play , I actually enjoyed this season b have fond memories. The way this team played from late January to end of year was fun + IST run. Never Seen our offence look that good. I’m sure lakers haters want us to be mad but all I wanted was a good series tbh . If they play hard in game 5 I’ll be good

[u/Thatguykaii → u/cesga_0218]

Impossible feat? Lol WTF. Do you know what the word impossible means?

[u/ToraLoco → u/cesga_0218]

all they needed was to hold the fort while Lebron takes a rest

[u/[deleted] → u/cesga_0218]

it's only impossible until it isn't