LOS ANGELES — The noise and rumors – at least temporarily – are behind them. For better or worse, the Lakers’ roster, outside of a possible addition via the buyout market, is set for the duration of the 2023-24 season.
No more questions or discussions about what trades the team could make. The only question that matters is: can the Lakers compete with the best teams in the Western Conference?
Even in a 114-106 home loss to the defending champion Denver Nuggets on Thursday night, with significant parts of their roster sidelined, they provided optimism that they could.
The Lakers (27-26), who were led by Anthony Davis (32 points, nine rebounds, four blocks, three steals) and LeBron James (25 points, nine rebounds, seven assists) stuck with the Nuggets (36-16) for 46 minutes.
They tied the score at 100 with 3:44 left and again at 104-all with just over two minutes remaining after a Jaxson Hayes chase-down block against Peyton Watson led to an Austin Reaves 3-pointer in transition on the other end.
But when it mattered most, the Nuggets showed why they’re at the top of the West – and a level of play the Lakers are still aspiring to consistently reach.
Jamal Murray (29 points, 11 assists, seven rebounds) made a 3-pointer to put the Nuggets up 107-104 with just under two minutes remaining. After an empty possession from the Lakers, Murray hit a floater in transition to give Denver a five-point lead.
The Nuggets once again capitalized off an empty Lakers possession after Reaves missed a 3-point attempt, with Nikola Jokic (24 points, 13 rebounds, nine assists) assisting Michael Porter Jr. (27 points, eight rebounds) on a corner 3-pointer to put the Nuggets up 112-104 – essentially sealing the victory with 1:05 left.
Porter had a dunk in transition 15 seconds later to end any hopes of a Lakers’ comeback, showing how much of a buzzsaw the Nuggets can be late in games, in a way that was reminiscent of last spring’s Western Conference finals.
