The Lakers have a great record with four wins in six games. In the first game back to the crypto center, the opponent was the defending champion - the Nuggets. To pay tribute to the unveiling of Kobe Bryant's statue, the Lakers wore Mamba jerseys.
After the start of the game, the Nuggets quickly got into the groove and launched a small 10-2 surge to take the lead. The Lakers struggled to catch up, but couldn't turn the tide. Midway through the second quarter, the Nuggets went on a 12-2 run to extend their lead to 10 points.
In the second half, the Lakers' James and Rivers combined to contribute 13 points and bite the score. The Nuggets' tempo spiraled out of control, and the Lakers seized the opportunity and went on a 9-2 run to narrow the deficit to four points and rekindle a glimmer of hope. However, at the critical moment, the Nuggets pulled together, Murray and Porter Jr. hit three-pointers in quick succession, and an 8-0 offensive wave completely changed the course of the game.
Jokic and Murray played well, and the Nuggets showed what it takes to be a champion. Jokic contributed 24 points, 13 rebounds, 9 assists and 3 blocks, and Murray also had 29 points, 7 rebounds, 11 assists and 2 steals. In addition, Porter also had 27 points and 8 rebounds, and Gordon contributed 11 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals.
Although the Lakers lost the game, they quickly realized the gap to their opponents and decided to change the situation with two minutes. Brother Bush scored 32 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals and 4 blocks, while James also contributed 25 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal and 1 block.
Although the results were not as good as they could have been, the game gave the Lakers valuable lessons. I believe that they will learn from their lessons, continue to improve themselves, and achieve better performances in future competitions!
Question: What do you think the Lakers have in this game? What are your expectations for the future of the team?