Following the Los Angeles Lakers’ heart-wrenching 101-99 defeat to the Denver Nuggets in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series, D’Angelo Russell took to a private Discord account to share his frustrations and address the team’s performance.
The Lakers seemed poised for victory after establishing a commanding 20-point lead in the first half against the defending champions. However, a second-half surge by the Nuggets, culminating in Jamal Murray‘s buzzer-beater fadeaway over Anthony Davis, dashed the Lakers’ hopes and left fans devastated.
“I can’t say what I want to say because I’ll get fined and it will go viral. I just told you I would make them b**ches. We’re still going to win. Don’t give up on us,” Russell wrote.
In addition to addressing the team’s performance, Russell aimed at the game’s officiating, suggesting that several questionable calls influenced the outcome of the game.
“I like where we were. I like the chance we gave ourselves. A few questionable calls dictated a lot of moments moving forward. So, it is what it is. We all saw it,” Russell commented during his post-game interview.
While the Lakers suffered a heartbreaking loss, Russell showcased a strong performance, finishing as the team’s third-leading scorer with 23 points, including seven three-pointers, along with six assists and three rebounds.
On the other side, Nikola Jokic put up monstrous numbers, recording a triple-double with 27 points, 20 rebounds, 10 assists, two steals, and two three-pointers, further solidifying his status as a dominant force in the NBA.
With the series shifting to Los Angeles, the Lakers find themselves in a must-win situation as they prepare to face the Nuggets in Game 3 at the Crypto.com Arena. As the Lakers aim to bounce back and close the series gap, Game 3 promises to be a pivotal matchup with both teams vying for a crucial victory.
The Lakers’ Game 2 loss has ignited intense debate and scrutiny, with Russell’s candid comments adding fuel to the fire. While the officiating remains a point of contention, the Lakers must regroup and refocus as they look to turn the tide in Game 3.
As the series continues to unfold, the Lakers will need to address their second-half collapses and maintain their composure under pressure to mount a comeback against a resilient Nuggets team.
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