Fourth time in franchise history Lakers started a season with a 0-4 record
Fourth time in franchise history Lakers started a season with a 0-4 record
Two-time defending NBA MVP Nikola Jokic dominated on Wednesday night time, almost racking up a triple-double with 31 factors, 13 rebounds, 9 assists and 4 steals within the Denver Nuggets’ 110-99 victory in opposition to the struggling Los Angeles Lakers, who are 0-4 on the season.
It’s the fourth time in the franchise’s historical past that the Lakers have begun a season with an 0-4 file, they usually sit alongside the Sacramento Kings and the Orlando Magic because the NBA’s solely winless groups this marketing campaign.
LeBron James, who hasn’t misplaced his first 4 games of a season since his rookie yr, had 19 factors, seven rebounds and 9 assists however dedicated eight turnovers for the Lakers, whereas Anthony Davis had 22 factors and 14 rebounds on the night time.
With the sport tied at 54-54 at halftime, the Nuggets pulled away within the third quarter of Wednesday’s sport as they outscored the Lakers 32-17.
Nuggets ahead Bruce Brown scored 18 factors and Jamal Murray had 13 together with an enormous three-pointer to provide Denver a 15-point lead within the fourth quarter.
“I felt that third quarter was considered one of our greatest quarters in a brief season,” Nuggets head coach Mike Malone informed reporters after the sport.
“We bought the win, however extra importantly, we bought the win enjoying how we have to play,” he added. “Defending, the ball is flying, getting out and operating off of our protection, so one thing to construct upon.”
The Nuggets, now 3-2 on the season, had Kentavious Caldwell-Pope depart the sport within the third quarter after twisting his ankle, and Malone mentioned the workforce would reassess the extent of the damage on Thursday.
The Lakers, in the meantime, had been without Russell Westbrook on Wednesday as he recovers from hamstring damage, with coach Darvin Ham saying they didn’t need to put the guard in a “susceptible place.”
In line with ESPN, the Lakers, who shot 8-for-30 from three-point vary in opposition to the Nuggets, have the worst three-point capturing begin by any workforce in the NBA historical past with a minimum of 100 makes an attempts via 4 games.
“We gotta make some pictures,” Lakers famous person James mentioned after the sport, “A few of its early season stuff. You already know, as I mentioned, it’s a brand new system, it’s a brand new group of fellows collectively. We’re nonetheless attempting to get aware of each other.”
“We’re 4 games in, it sucks to lose, however having 78 games left, there’s loads of time for us to propel the ship, and it begins now,” mentioned Ham.
The Lakers subsequent play the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday in a bid to show their season round, whereas the Nuggets host the Utah Jazz.
