Despite losing Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals to the top-seeded Denver Nuggets, the Lakers left the arena with a sense of optimism.
They battled back from a double-digit deficit and had a chance to steal a win on the road in the closing minutes. Ultimately, the Nuggets closed them out, but their adjustments worked and also offered a potential path to success in Game 2.
For the most part, that looked to be the case on Thursday night. But then the fourth quarter happened, and the optimism that surrounded the team earlier in the week took a severe hit with every Jamal Murray jumper swished in front of their eyes.