Credit: X
LeBron James-led Los Angeles Lakers suffered their second loss against the defending champions, Denver Nuggets, in the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs on Monday night at the Ball Arena. The Lakers blew a 20-point lead against the Nuggets, as the home side registered two straight wins in the playoffs and extended their head-to-head record against the Lakers to 10 straight wins. One of LeBron's biggest critics, Skip Bayless, was quick to react to the loss and slammed the Lakers on social media.
With 10 minutes remaining in the third quarter, the Lakers led the Nuggets 68-48, however, the home side reduced the lead to 10 points ahead of the final quarter. With the game being tied at 99-99, LeBron James took a wide-open three-point shot with 16 seconds remaining in the game. After losing his defender, LeBron took a 24' 3-point shot, however, the 20-time All-Star missed the shot and Nuggets' Michael Porter Jr grabbed the rebound.
Watch LeBron's potential game-winning miss:
Nuggets star guard Jamal Murray scored the last six points for his side including the buzzer-beater game-winner. After LeBron missed a big chance to level the series, Murray scored a tough fallaway shot, which was contested by Anthony Davis, to help the Nuggets take a 2-0 lead in the series.
Watch Jamal Murray's game-winner:
After blowing a 20-point lead, sports commentator Skip Bayless, who is known for his critical takes on LeBron James, slammed the Lakers. Skip wrote on X, " PLEASE DON'T TELL ME LEBRON JAMES HAD A WIDE-OPEN UNGUARDED THREE TO WIN IT ... AND MISSED IT ... AND JAMAL MURRAY HAD A FALLAWAY CONTESTED BY ANTHONY DAVIS AT THE BUZZER ... AND MADE IT! "
The Lakers are next scheduled to host the Nuggets at the Crypto.com Arena for Game 3 of their 2024 NBA Playoffs on Thursday, April 25.