The Los Angeles Lakers gave STAPLES Centers fans something to cheer about in the opening quarter against the Denver Nuggets, but a stagnant mid-game doomed the purple and gold in a 113-107 loss.
The Lakers opened the game doing exactly what head coach Luke Walton’s been preaching all summer. They managed to turn multiple successful defensive possessions into multiple successful transition baskets, showing glimpses of being that fast-paced team that rattles opponents with pressure.
That faded away through the first half, though. It didn’t help that Larry Nance, Jr. (sprained right index fight) and Lonzo Ball (ankle tweak) found themselves going into halftime gimpy.