It wasn’t a must-win game when the night began. Teams beginning a series on the road, of course, just have to win one out of four provided they handle business on their own home court.
But these circumstances are different. The Lakers had to win.
After losing nine consecutive games to Denver and Nikola Jokic, after having late-game issue after late-game issue, Monday had to be the stand.
Up 20 early in the second half, if the Lakers weren’t going to do this in Game 2, when on earth would they?
But trends that get established over the course of seasons don’t break easily, the Nuggets chipping and chipping away at the Lakers while their offense floundered.