Lakers on brink of elimination after Game 3 loss to Nuggets

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) shoots against Los Angeles 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)

LOS ANGELES – The Lakers were unable to hold a double-digit lead for the third consecutive game, losing to the Denver Nuggets, 112-105, Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena in an NBA Western Conference first-round series.

Aaron Gordon led four Nuggets in double figures with 29 points, and had a game-high equaling 15 rebounds, while Nikola Jokic scored 24 points, also pulled down 15 rebounds and had a game-high equaling nine assists and Jamal Murray scored 22 points with nine assists as Denver took a three games to none lead.

Game 4 of the best-of-seven series will be played Saturday at Crypto.com Arena. All 151 teams that have won the first three games of a best-of-seven series have gone on to win the series.

Denver trailed 53-49 at halftime. The Nuggets took their first lead, 58-55, 1 minute, 53 seconds into the second half after Murray scored five points during a 7-0 run. The Lakers would regain the lead twice, 59-58, and 61-60.

Denver responded with a 13-2 run, with Gordon scoring eight points, to take a 73-63 lead with 4:57 to play in the quarter.

The Lakers trailed 83-75 entering the fourth quarter, scored the first points of the quarter on LeBron James‘ 18-foot pullup shot, but never pulled closer, trailing by as much as 15, until Austin Reeves’ 3-point basket with 4.1 seconds left cut the deficit to 110-105.

Anthony Davis led the Lakers with 33 points and 15 rebounds, while James scored 26 and had nine assists and Reaves 22 before a capacity crowd announced at 18,997, some of whom chanted “Fire Darvin,” in the fourth quarter, referring to coach Darvin Ham.

Both teams made 44 of 90 shots, 48.9 percent. The Lakers made 5 of 27 3-point shots, 18.5 percent, the Nuggets, 5 of 28, 17.9 percent. The Lakers made 12 of 17 free throws, 70.6 percent, Denver 19 of 22, 86..4 percent.

The Nuggets led in rebounds, 51-38, including 26-17 in the second half, when they outscored the Lakers, 63-52.

The Lakers scored the game’s first eight points, then later scored six unanswered points to take a 27-17 lead with 4:48 left in the first quarter. The Lakers led 33-23 at the end of the first quarter and increased their lead to 37-25 10:38 before halftime.

The Lakers last had a double-digit lead with 4:08 remaining in the second quarter after Gabe Vincent made an 18-foot step back shot to put them ahead 47-37.

Denver scored the next six points on baskets by Murray, Michael Porter Jr. and Jokic. The Nuggets scored the final four points of the half on Murray’s two free throws and Gordon’s tip layup.

The loss was the 11th straight by the Lakers to Denver, dating back to last season, including a 114-103 loss in Game 1 Saturday at Denver when they had a 12-point second-quarter lead, and a 101-99 loss in Game 2 Monday in Denver where they had a 20-point third-quarter lead. (CNS)