Lakers, Nuggets both take lessons from LA’s near comeback in Game 1

DENVER (AP) —The Los Angeles Lakers are taking solace in their big second-halfcomeback that fell just short in the Western Conference finalsopener at Denver.

They aren’talone — the Denver Nuggets also feel L.A.’s furious rally heldtakeaways for them heading into Game 2 on Thursday night at BallArena.

“I told ourguys this is the best possible situation we could be in,” Denvercoach Michael Malone said Wednesday. “We won Game 1, so we’re up1-0. But there’s so many things that we can clean up.”

Film studywasn’t much fun for either team Wednesday.

The Lakersscored 72 second-half points on 67% shooting from the field and 90%from the free throw line while holding the Nuggets to onefast-break bucket and finally slowing down Nikola Jokic in thefourth quarter.

It wasn’tenough to overcome the big deficit or Jokic’s big night astheNuggetsheld on 132-126.

Los Angelesbig man Anthony Davis said the second-half turnaround has theseventh-seeded Lakers hopeful they can still wrestle the homecourtadvantage from top-seeded Denver just like they did against Memphisand Golden State in these playoffs.

“Oh, yeah. Weknow what put us in that hole: no transition, rebounding,” Davissaid. “They’re a physical, hard-playing team. They were verycomfortable doing whatever they wanted. In the second half we justimposed our will, especially in that fourth quarter, playing Lakerbasketball. We were able to cut the lead.”

The Lakerswere behind 21 points when they started playing and they could notovercome the deficit.

Not only didDenver’s defense disappear after halftime but Lakers coach DarvinHam found a way to slow down Jokic. He put Rui Hachimura on theNuggets star in the fourth quarter which allowed Davis to roam therim.

A two-timeNBA MVP, Jokic was unstoppable in the opening two quarters. Hejoined Kevin Garnett as the only players in the last 25 years with15 points, 15 rebounds and five assists in a half. But in thefourth quarter, he was held without a basket and was limited tothree points and a pair of assists.

“Much isbeing made of them putting Rui Hachimura on Nikola Jokic, likewe’ve never seen that before,” Malone scoffed, noting that thestrategy made for “an interesting storyline” because it keptD’Angelo Russell, who’s been playing really well, on the bench forthe entire fourth quarter.

Ham saidhe’ll keep throwing different looks and big bodies at Jokic, whohas six triple-doubles in these playoffs, including 34 points, 21rebounds and 14 assists Tuesday night despite his quiet fourthquarter.

“We’redefinitely going to mix up the matchups some and throw differentpitches at him in terms of coverages and see where we land,” Hamsaid.

Malone mayhave been grumpy about the Nuggets letting up after taking a 93-72lead, but the morning also brought a sunnier mood because hisplayers weren’t brimming with cockiness from a blowout. They werelaser focused from the close call.

“It’s like aperfect storm,” Malone said, noting that the national buzzWednesday seemed all about the Lakers having left Ball Arenaconvinced they’d found their edge in this series.

“I’d bet youevery red cent I have that Darvin Ham would rather be up 1-0 thandown 1-0,” Malone said. “So, for us to be able to watch film aftera win and show all the things that we did poorly is a greatsituation to be in. We have a lot to improve upon, and tomorrownight is another opportunity for us to do that.”

The Lakers’lesson was more about the slow start than the furious finish.

“It’s theWestern Conference finals — you can’t ease into games,” Davis said.“Even though they say, ‘Oh, Game 1 is a feel-out game’ andeverything like that, you never want to ease into the game,especially at this point in the season.”

LeBron James,for one, didn’t feel good about the Lakers making a game of it onlyto come up short anyway.

“Inpostseason it doesn’t matter if you cut it to one or you’re down20, if you lose, you lose,” James said. “They are 1-and-0 and wehave to come back with desperation going into Game 2. ... We needto be better in all facets of the game.”

From start tofinish.