The same situation happened once again at the beginning of the playoff game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets.
Once more, D’Angelo Russell struggled as the defending champion Nuggets continued their dominance over the Lakers, winning 114-103.
“I can’t really be mad,” Russell told reporters after making only 6 out of 20 shots. “I don’t remember the last time I had 20 shots. So for me to have 20 good looks — not all 20 were good, maybe five or six were questionable. I know what I’m capable of. So honestly, I’m excited. I’m excited about that.”
It was during last year’s Western Conference Finals sweep at the hands of the Nuggets when Russell lost his confidence and his starting role. But Lakers coach Darvin Ham was quick to reassure everyone that Russell is not heading in that direction again after his shooting struggles in Game 1.
“D-Lo is a major reason why we’re here in the first place,” Ham told reporters. “I’m not going to give up on my player just because he’s missing the shots that he normally makes. Those same shots were going in against New Orleans [in the play-in tournament] and other games that he’s played in to help us get to this point. So it just wasn’t his night.”
D’Angelo Russell: ‘No Love Lost’
Russell entered this season’s playoffs averaging 18.0 points with a career-high 41.5% 3-point shooting and 6.3 assists as he regained his confidence and starting spot under Ham. But on Saturday, the nightmares of last May’s struggles — 6.3 points on 13% 3-point shooting and 3.5 assists — against the Nuggets resurfaced.
The 27-year-old Lakers point guard only ended up with 13 points with a terrible 1 out of 9 3-point shooting and 3 assists. However, despite his terrible shooting, the Lakers outscored the Nuggets by two when he was on the court.
“I just feel like sometimes the ball just doesn’t fall,” Russell said. “I was focused on the details and the little things just to try to stay on the floor defensively and things like that. And you look up, your shots aren’t falling. So no love lost. Can’t be upset about that one. Be ready for the next one.”
Lakers Bench Struggled Too
It was not just Russell who failed to perform well.
The Lakers bench, filled with experienced players compared to the Nuggets second unit which featured young players Christian Braun and Peyton Watson, struggled.
Only Taurean Prince managed to score nine points off the bench for the Lakers. Spencer Dinwiddie, Gabe Vincent and Jaxson Hayes didn't even try to shoot.
On the other hand, the Nuggets got 17 points from their bench.
After scoring 60 points in the first half, the Lakers could only manage 18 in the third quarter as the Nuggets took an 89-78 lead and never looked back.
Former Laker Kentavious Caldwell-Pope did most of the damage, scoring all 12 of his points in that crucial quarter.
The Nuggets' impressive starting five combined for 97 points, led by Nikola Jokic’s 32 points. The two-time MVP also contributed 12 rebounds and 7 assists to lead Denver.
