The Nuggets personal a commanding 3-1 lead over the Lakers of their first-round playoff collection, however LeBron James & Co. have nonetheless inexplicably dominated many of the 192 minutes to this point.
The Lakers have been forward in 136 minutes and 31 seconds of the collection, surrendering a result in the Nuggets for less than 41 minutes and 53 seconds. The video games have been tied for 14 minutes and 7 seconds.
Amazingly, the Lakers led all 4 video games on the halftime break — by three factors in Sport 1, 15 in Sport 2, 4 in Sport 3 and 13 in Sport 4.
Like clockwork, the Lakers would get outscored within the third quarters to let the Nuggets seize management — 32-18 in Sport 1, 25-20 in Sport 2, 34-22 in Sport 3.
On Saturday, the Lakers lastly flipped the script and refused to give up their benefit within the third. Though they nonetheless bought outscored by two factors, the Lakers matched the Nuggets’ depth and physicality, out-rebounding the Nuggets, 14-12, and changing on many second-chance alternatives.
In some methods, the Lakers gave the Nuggets a style of their very own drugs.
After the win, Lakers guard Austin Reaves, who shone within the recreation with 21 factors and 6 assists, asserted that his workforce understood the importance of the third quarter.
“It has been some extent of emphasis for apparent causes — we knew we needed to win the third quarter,” Reaves advised reporters. “Previously, they’ve taken benefit of their little 7-0, 8-0 runs and people flip into 12-2 or no matter. Tonight, we, saved them from form of getting that and extra.”
Provided that the Lakers paid consideration to these particulars, they might be going again to Denver tied 2-2 as an alternative of teetering getting ready to elimination. As an alternative, the Lakers try to change into the primary workforce in NBA historical past to get better from a 3-0 deficit within the playoffs.
Sport 4 ideas off Monday at 10 p.m. ET.
