Lakers-Nuggets: 5 takeaways as Nikola Jokic, Aaron Gordon step up in Game 3

Lakers-Nuggets: 5 takeaways as Nikola Jokic, Aaron Gordon step up in Game 3

LOS ANGELES — If you get swept twice in two years, what’s the terminology for that — getting vacuumed?

Such is the humbling situation the Lakers find themselves in against the Nuggets, unfathomable when you think about it. Not only is it rare for a team to be whisked away repeatedly in this manner, but this is LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

Yet, just as they did last year in the Western Conference Finals, the Nuggets have the Lakers in a headlock and about to flex. After spotting L.A. another double-digit first-half lead — the Lakers were also up 12 in Game 1, 20 in Game 2 and 10 after the first quarter of Game 3 — it was just another cruel tease.

Denver’s 112–105 victory Thursday was its 11th straight against the Lakers (regular season and postseason), giving the defending champs a 3–0 lead in the first-round series.

Here are five takeaways from Game 3:

1. Lakers were gassed mentally

Here’s how the Lakers started Game 3 — Anthony Davis dunk, Rui Hachimura dunk, LeBron James dunk. Feisty, aggressive and dare we say, angry.

Here’s how the Lakers ended Game 3 — droopy Read more