Title: Highly Offensive! Malone: “I Prefer Nuggets Trailing Lakers by 20 at Halftime, Don’t Want Too Much Lead When Ahead”
Down 0-3, the Nuggets have faced devastating reversals in all three games while in the lead. The Lakers, continuing to battle at home, have no room for error; another loss would mark their exit from this season’s playoffs, a first for the franchise. James and Davis are determined to prevent such an outcome.
Similar to the previous games, the Lakers started strong, establishing a significant lead. Crucially, they maintained their composure in the third quarter, avoiding a collapse. Ultimately, they defeated the Nuggets 119-108, narrowing the series to 1-3.
Despite the win, the Lakers are on the edge. The Nuggets still hold two match points, and the Lakers face the daunting prospect of playing at the Nuggets’ high-altitude home court. While historic comebacks from a 1-3 deficit are rare in NBA playoff history, LeBron James has been both witness to and architect of such a feat.
In the 2016 NBA Finals, facing a 1-3 deficit against the record-setting 73-9 Warriors, James led the Cavaliers to a remarkable comeback, securing their first-ever championship. His iconic block and Kyrie Irving’s clutch shot remain etched in memory.
However, not every adversity leads to a miracle. James last faced a 1-3 deficit in 2017, against the Warriors once again. Despite his efforts, the Cavaliers fell short, losing 1-4 in the Finals.
James acknowledges the importance of Game 5, aware that it could define their season. He stated, “The next game for us is the most important game of the season. We have to start focusing on that now. We want to continue to play good basketball, be locked in for the next one. We lose, we’re done, so we’ll see what happens.”
Given James’s age and uncertainty surrounding the upcoming draft, this could potentially be his final playoff journey. He is eager to go further, but the Lakers face slim odds against the Nuggets.
The Lakers’ victory today can be attributed to two main factors. Firstly, contributions from players beyond James and Davis, with Russell notably scoring 20+. Secondly, Murray’s subpar performance, coupled with effective Lakers defense, prevented the Nuggets from completing a sweep.
Heading into Game 5, the Lakers must replicate this performance to challenge the Nuggets. Yet, expecting Russell to maintain his form or for Murray to continue struggling is unrealistic. Thus, the likelihood of witnessing another 1-3 comeback appears remote.