Fans Think One Brutal Sequence by Anthony Davis, Lebron James Spells Doom for Lakers in Playoff Series vs. Nuggets

Kristen Wong | Apr 21, 2024

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

If the Los Angeles Lakers want to avoid a repeat of last year’s playoff series against the Denver Nuggets, they might have to include more conditioning in their practice drills.

In Saturday’s 114–103 defeat in Ball Arena, the Lakers saw their postseason hopes slip ever so slightly after losing Game 1 of the series to the No. 2 Nuggets. Despite the close score, fans pointed out one brutal Lakers sequence from the game’s fourth quarter that didn't bode well for Los Angeles’ chances of advancing to the next round.

Down nine points with over a minute to go in the fourth, Lakers’ Anthony Davis and LeBron James tried to narrow Denver’s lead in the paint but ended up turning the ball over instead. Nuggets’ Aaron Gordon came out with the loose ball in transition, and he threaded the needle to Nikola Jokić for a game-sealing dunk. 

During that sequence, fans noticed Davis looking gassed with his hands on his knees, unable to get back on defense after the turnover. James did run back and try to guard Jokić, but even he couldn’t keep up with the Nuggets star, who effortlessly collected Gordon’s pass for the easy dunk.

Anthony Davis, hands on his knees, can’t make it past half court. LeBron James watches Nikola Jokic as he runs right by him.pic.twitter.com/TAudJcedBb

— Harrison Wind (@HarrisonWind) April 21, 2024

NBA fans thought the Lakers’ lack of discipline and poor physical shape were concerning, to say the least.

we might look back at this sequence as the dagger in the series... watching the two best players unable to score from 2 feet out multiple times and then not getting back to defend really crushing to morale

— Bobby 🎲 (@Sportsfanbobby) April 21, 2024

People don’t understand what that altitude does to guys that are running back and forth for a couple hours…. It takes a toll on even the best athletes in the world

— Landen Cummings (@CoachLanden) April 21, 2024

They were out of gas and gave up by then. Davis played real hard and well and a lot of minutes. Nothing left.

— College Ball King (@collegeballking) April 21, 2024

This series was supposed to be different tho!! LMFAOOOO

— Bit Giant (@btclfgmen) April 21, 2024

The Lebron era is over. He did what he came to do and will forever be a top 5 player but Father Time is undefeated.

— Power Players #HTX 🤘🏽 (@CtrlAltDel_user) April 21, 2024

LeTired

— John Clinebell (@JohnClinebell) April 21, 2024

Jokic “out of shape” crowd in shambles.

— Beau Coit (@BeauCoit) April 21, 2024

Kobe and Jordan would never.

— Ricky Barksdale (@RickyBarksdale) April 21, 2024

The Lakers will play the Nuggets in Game 2 of the series in Ball Arena on Monday night.