The following comes courtesy of Bard, Google’s AI platform except where bold.
The Lakers lost Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals to the Nuggets 132-126 on Tuesday night. The Nuggets were led by Nikola Jokic, who had a triple-double with 37 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists [Editors note: Close, Joker finished with 34 points, 21 rebounds and 14 assists]. The Lakers were led by Anthony Davis, who had 40 points and 10 rebounds. The Lakers trailed by as many as 21 points in the second half, but they rallied to cut the lead to three with just over a minute remaining. However, the Nuggets were able to hold on for the win.
The Lakers struggled to defend Jokic in the first half. He scored 25 points in the first half, and the Nuggets shot 52.9% from the field as a team. The Lakers were able to slow Jokic down in the second half, but the Nuggets had already built a big lead.
The Lakers also struggled from three-point range. They shot just 30.4% from three-point range [Editors note: They finished shooting a very respectable 45.8% from deep], and they missed several key three-pointers in the fourth quarter. The Nuggets, on the other hand, shot 42.9% from three-point range. [Editors note: Nuggets shot 46.9% from deep]
The Lakers will need to play better defense and shoot better from three-point range in Game 2 if they want to even the series. Game 2 will be played on Thursday night in Denver.
Here are some additional details about the game:
- The Lakers were without guard Russell Westbrook, who was out with a quad injury. [Editors note: Ummmm]
- The Nuggets were without guard Will Barton, who was out with a hamstring injury. [Editors note: Barton was out due to being a Toronto Raptor]
- The Lakers had a 21-point lead in the second quarter, but the Nuggets rallied to take a 102-91 lead into halftime. [Editors note: Halftime score was 72-54 Nuggets]
- The Lakers cut the lead to three points with 1:09 remaining in the game, but the Nuggets were able to hold on for the win.
- The Lakers shot 44.4% from the field and 30.4% from three-point range. [Editors note: 54.8% from the field and 45.8% from deep]
- The Nuggets shot 50.0% from the field and 42.9% from three-point range. [Editors note: 54.9% from the field and 46.9% from deep]
- Jokic had a triple-double with 37 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists. [Editors note: See above]
- Davis had 40 points and 10 rebounds.
- Malik Beasley had 23 points off the bench for the Nuggets. [Editors note: Wrong team, wrong point total – off by 23 points]
- Austin Reaves had 23 points for the Lakers.
Yes, AI got a lot wrong here, but it also encapsulated the game really well into two sentences. The Lakers trailed by as many as 21 points in the second half, but they rallied to cut the lead to three with just over a minute remaining. However, the Nuggets were able to hold on for the win.
