The Los Angeles Lakers couldn’t continue their streak of Game 1 wins in the 2023 Playoffs after losing a close matchup to the Denver Nuggets.
LeBron James had a strong night with 26 points, 12 rebounds, and 9 assists, but he had some crucial late-game mistakes that cost them the win. Regardless, James seemed unfazed by the challenge of the No. 1 seed post-game, laughing and causally sipping on his drink during his press conference.
James may not have had the best night but he seems sure in the Lakers’ ability to respond in Game 2. Darvin Ham also indicated that the team isn’t worrying about this series just yet, but a Game 2 loss could dramatically change their outlook on the series.
LeBron James Wasn’t Happy With Lakers First Half Effort In Game 1
LeBron James addressed the Lakers’ slow start in the game, going into the second half trailing by 18 points. The Lakers ultimately lost the game 126-132, showing they were dominant in the third and fourth quarters.
“It took us a half to get into the game. And that was pretty much the ballgame right there. They punched us in the mouth to start. I know the game is won in 48 minutes, but they set the tone in 24 minutes, and we were playing catch-up for the next 24.”
So far this playoff run, both the Lakers and Nuggets are undefeated at home. The Lakers are 6-0 in home games while the Nuggets are 7-0 after last night’s win. The Nuggets have an environmental advantage with the low altitude and non-local players struggling to adjust to the altitude, while the Lakers have arguably the best playoff arena atmosphere in the league.
If the Nuggets can keep winning their home games, the series will likely come back. to Denver in a Game 7. Winning home games won’t be enough for the Lakers, who need to snag Game 2 on the road while defending their own home court in Games 3 and 4. That’s been the recipe for their playoff success so far, so they will feel they are still in the mix until they take a loss in the Crypto.com arena.
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