Lakers’ promising start turns into same depressing story vs. Nuggets

Lakers’ promising start turns into same depressing story vs. Nuggets https://t.co/57VSCAFgo2

— LakerTom (@LakerTom) April 22, 2024

Los Angeles Lakers head coach Darvin Ham’s message to his team entering its rematch with the defending champion Denver Nuggets was to learn from the past and, more importantly, move forward.

That last part will be difficult for the Lakers to do when their tortured history with the Nuggets continues to repeat itself.

In many ways, the Lakers’ 114-103 loss to the Nuggets in Game 1 of the Western Conference first-round series felt like an extension of the previous eight losses. Nikola Jokić was the best player on the floor, with Los Angeles finding no way to prevent him from scoring easily or generating wide-open layups and 3s for his teammates. Jamal Murray hit circus shot after circus shot. Once the Nuggets ratcheted up their intensity and execution in the second half, they were on a different level than the Lakers. D’Angelo Russell struggled and looked unplayable.

Denver has now beaten the Lakers nine straight times, with little indication that will change anytime soon.

“We could have been better,” LeBron James said. “I thought we played some good ball tonight, but we could’ve been better. We know … we just don’t have much room for error versus this Denver team, especially on their home floor. It’s just a team that’s been through everything. Obviously, they’re the defending champions, so you gotta execute, you gotta make shots, you gotta defend. And then, you can’t give them extra possessions.