The Lakers’ hopes of overcoming a 2-0 deficit in their first-round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets took a major blow on Monday night as they suffered a heartbreaking 101-99 loss in Game 2.
Despite a dominant first half in which they built a 20-point lead, the Lakers’ offense went cold in the second half, and their defense failed to hold off a late surge by the Nuggets. Jamal Murray’s game-winning jumper over Anthony Davis with just seconds remaining proved to be the dagger in the Lakers’ hearts.
The Lakers’ struggles in Game 2 exposed several weaknesses that have plagued them throughout the season. Their lack of consistent shooting, poor防守, and inability to close out games have proved to be insurmountable challenges against a talented and well-coached Nuggets team.
LeBron James, who has been carrying the Lakers all season, had a rough night, shooting just 6-of-19 from the field and missing a potential game-tying three-pointer in the final seconds. Davis, who had been dominant in Game 1, was held to just seven shot attempts in the second half as the Nuggets defense adjusted to his presence.
The Lakers now face an uphill battle to save their season. They will need to find a way to generate more offense, improve their defense, and close out games if they want to avoid a sweep at the hands of the Nuggets. With Game 3 set for Thursday in Los Angeles, the Lakers will need to make some major adjustments if they want to keep their playoff hopes alive.
