In Game 1 of their first-round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets, the Los Angeles Lakers suffered a 114-103 loss. Despite strong performances from LeBron James and Anthony Davis, who combined for 59 points on 56.4% shooting, the Lakers were unable to out-play Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray. The Lakers’ stars had an edge statistically, but it did not feel like an advantage by the end of the game due to turnovers and defensive lapses.
The Lakers struggled in two specific areas that they had focused on going into the game — defensive rebounding and transition defense. The Nuggets were able to capitalize on these weaknesses, resulting in a 17-point edge in second-chance and fast-break points. The Lakers recognized that they need to excel in these areas in order to compete effectively against the Nuggets.
D’Angelo Russell, who had a poor performance against the Nuggets in last year’s playoffs, struggled again in Game 1 by going 6 of 20 from the field. Despite his shooting woes, Russell remained positive and expressed confidence in his abilities. The Lakers recognize that they need Russell to step up and be aggressive on offense in order to be successful moving forward.
There was some frustration among the Lakers regarding their defensive coverages on Nikola Jokic, who had a strong second-half performance. Some believed that the Lakers got too predictable in their defensive schemes, allowing Jokic to exploit mismatches. Adjustments will need to be made moving forward to contain Jokic effectively.
The Lakers also struggled to make shots from beyond the arc, attempting 13 fewer threes and making seven less than Denver. This resulted in a 21-point disadvantage in three-point shooting. The Lakers will need to improve their three-point shooting and focus on cleaning the glass in order to overcome this deficit in Game 2.
Overall, the Lakers recognized the areas in which they need to improve in order to bounce back in Game 2 against the Nuggets. Despite the loss in Game 1, the Lakers remain confident in their abilities and are focused on making the necessary adjustments to even the series.
