Takeaways from Game 3: Jokic and Gordon Shine as Nuggets Beat Lakers

Takeaways from Game 3: Jokic and Gordon Shine as Nuggets Beat Lakers

Aaron Gordon dazzles with a career-best playoff performance, propelling Denver to rediscover their peak form and pushing Los Angeles to the edge of elimination.

LOS ANGELES — If you're swept twice in two years, is it fair to say you've been vacuumed?

That's the stark reality facing the Lakers as they struggle against the Nuggets, a scenario that's hard to comprehend. It's not often you see a team, especially one led by LeBron James and Anthony Davis, repeatedly dominated like this.

Yet, just like in last year's Western Conference Finals, the Nuggets have once again put the Lakers in a tight spot. Despite the Lakers holding double-digit leads in both Game 1 and Game 2, they couldn't hold on. Denver's 112-105 win on Thursday marked their 11th consecutive victory against the Lakers, extending their lead to 3-0 in the first-round series.

Here are five key points to take away from Game 3:

The Lakers began Game 3 with a burst of energy: Anthony Davis, Rui Hachimura, and LeBron James all slammed dunks, displaying a feisty and aggressive attitude. However, as the game progressed, their demeanor shifted. Their body language sagged, mistakes piled up—LeBron even dribbled the ball off his knee and out of bounds. D’Angelo Russell missed crucial shots and faced boos from the crowd. To make matters worse, he refused to engage with the team during timeouts.

The Lakers faltered. Their shooting was abysmal, their once-held lead slipped away, and they failed to ignite any hope in their home crowd. One can't help but wonder if their past struggles against the Nuggets weighed heavily on their minds, draining their confidence.

What's perplexing is that the Lakers had been competitive in their previous six playoff games, but this one was different—it was a blowout by the third quarter. Perhaps the pressure finally got to them.

Russell couldn't find his rhythm, going scoreless on seven attempts. Even Davis, who scored 33 points, only managed three in the final quarter. The Lakers' defense, especially in the paint, crumbled under pressure, indicating a team overwhelmed.

LeBron summed it up: "We lost focus on the details that drove us in the first half."