Lakers, LeBron James lack ‘attention to detail’ in Game 3 loss vs. Nuggets
For the third straight game of the series — this time, in front of a revved-up Crypto.com Arena — the Lakers jumped to a double-digit lead. As usual, the Nuggets calmly chipped away with an air of inevitability that has defined the one-sided rivalry for two years.
The Lakers’ execution waned as halftime neared. Out of the locker room, they were fatally flat. Denver opened the third quarter on a 9-2 run en route to a 34-22 period. For the series, the Lakers — who led 68-48 in Game 2 — have been outscored by 31 points in the third quarter.
“Atrocious,” Austin Reaves said about the Lakers’ post-halftime performances. “If we want to fight our way back into this one Saturday, we obviously have to be good in all quarters. But that third quarter, especially.”
“I think they just get more detailed,” Gabe Vincent said about Michael Malone’s well-oiled machine. “Their execution picks up. They’re a little more locked in than we are to come out the half.”
LeBron finished with 26 points (12-for-20 shooting), nine assists, and six rebounds in 42 minutes. His abysmal effort on the glass contributed to Aaron Gordon’s monster game (29 points, 15 rebounds) and the Nuggets’ dominance on the offensive glass (14 boards).
“I feel like we spend so much energy in the first half building leads or with the defensive intensity that we come out in the third quarter with not much energy, or kind of lose track of our attention to detail,” LeBron said.
Anthony Davis put up 33 points on 14-for-23 shooting and 15 rebounds in 43 minutes. Once again, LeBron and AD didn’t get nearly enough support from their supporting cast, despite playing at home for the first time since April 9.
A pair of meaningless late 3-pointers boosted Reaves’ box score — 22 points, 8-for-17 shooting — though his defense (four steals) on Jamal Murray (8-for-21 FG) remains impressive.
D’Angelo Russell (0 points) and Rui Hachimura (5 points) were non-factors (they declined to answer questions postgame). Only three Lakers hit double-figures.
