Lakers’ LeBron James Explains Why There’s No ‘Room for Error’ vs. Nuggets After Loss

Andrew PetersApril 21, 2024

Andy Cross/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images

After the Los Angeles Lakers Game One loss to the Denver Nuggets on Saturday night, LeBron James knows his team can’t afford any mistakes moving forward.

“We could have been better. I thought we played some good ball tonight, but we could’ve been better,” James told reporters after the game (1:30 mark). “We know we just don’t have much room for error versus a Denver team, especially on their home floor. They’re just a team that’s been through everything. Obviously, they’re the defending champions. So, you got to execute, you got to make shots, you got to defend.”

James said a key focus will be limiting offensive rebounds for a team that boasts one of the best offenses in the league.

“And then you can’t give them extra possessions,” James said. “Them having 18 second-chance points when you’re trying to defend already against a high-powered offensive team, that’s going to be already difficult.”

In Saturday’s 114-103 loss, James and his co-star, Anthony Davis, carried their weight. James had 27 points, eight assists and six rebounds while Davis notched 32 points, 14 rebounds and five assists.

While the Lakers got solid production from their stars, Los Angeles’ support cast struggled. D’Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves had 13 points each while Rui Hachimura had seven points. The role players’ efforts weren’t nearly enough to keep up with Denver’s offense.

Nikola Jokić had 32 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists in the win. While those performances from the two-time MVP are somewhat inevitable, the Lakers can stay in the series if they match the Nuggets’ offensive production.

The loss was reminiscent of the Western Conference finals last year. The Lakers were in the game through the first half, but a third-quarter push that saw the Nuggets outscore Los Angeles 32-18 helped put the game out of reach.

Those kinds of third-quarter collapses won’t be enough for the Lakers to pull off a first-round upset, and James and Los Angeles will be looking to play a complete game in the next game of the series on Monday.