That’ll do it for the 2023-24 Lakers season. Thanks for following along, as always.

Davis said he’s looking forward to spending the summer with LeBron on Team USA, and to try and recruit him back to the Lakers for Year 22.

“His goal is to win and I feel like we can do that here.”

Davis said he was having trouble moving his shoulder, but credited his trainers for “Digging into my scapula to relax the nerves and stuff like that,” to get it loose enough to return.

Later in the presser, LeBron was asked if this could be his last game with the Lakers, and he said he wasn’t going to answer that question. Earlier, again, he said his immediate focus was family, rest, then the Olympics.

LeBron first gave credit to Denver.

Asked if he’s had initial thoughts about what comes next, he said first he’ll focus on his family and what’s going on with them, then get ready to report to USA Basketball for the Olympics.

Hasn’t thought about next NBA season yet.

Rui Hachimura, after sharing the frustration with being so close, but not close enough, vs. Denver: “We just gotta keep building it. This past 30 games we had a great stretch, we beat most of the teams in the league except (Denver) … I feel like we’re on the right track.”

Reaves played more high-level hoops than almost anybody in the world the last 2+ years:

- 64 games, + 16 playoff games through 2023 WCF
- Team USA in summer
- All 82 + IST Final, play-in, and 5 playoff games in 2024.

Big summer for him to rest, build strength. Expecting a big

Austin Reaves, always self-critical, said he’s mad at himself for not playing to the level he expects in the first couple games of this series. He said he’ll use it as motivation to attack the offseason.

He scored 9 points in crunch time tonight, including a go-ahead 3.

Will be tough for LAL to swallow a 2-point loss when they missed 9 FT’s, on top of Davis getting hit in the shoulder, which ended up costing him time in the 3rd Q when DEN turned a 9-point deficit into a 2-point lead going into the 4th.

But, ultimately, DEN got it done.

A cruel ending for the Lakers, who saw a Jamal Murray game-winning shot fall after leading for a good portion of the game, again.

LAL lost their time out despite winning their late challenge because it was their 2nd challenge of the night, so they couldn’t advance the ball.

Missed free throws from the Lakers have been a major factor tonight, but LeBron hit the two biggest ones to tie the game with 26.3 seconds left.

LAL now 18 for 27.

This time, the Lakers benefit from the 'marginal' contact on a challenge. That helped Denver in Game 2 on the Russell/MPJ call.

Nice ATO for LAL to get Russell a layup. Quick attack from D-Lo to tie the game at 99.

Lakers now challenging a foul called on Davis, who thought he had all ball on a Jokic attempt.

Reaves has 3 straight buckets for the Lakers, but Murray has a pair of hoops at the rim, and MPJ his 5th 3-pointer, and Denver's 15th, to keep the Nuggets up 99-97 with 3:37 to play.

Both teams battling expected fatigue.

Now 9 missed free throws for the Lakers, to Denver's 1. Killer in a tight game.

A timely rally from the Lakers after Denver took their biggest lead tonight came courtesy of 1 of 2 Davis FT's, LeBron's 3rd 3, and Hachimura's dunk off LeBron's 9th assist.

All tied at 87 with 8:30 to play.

Another tough swing for LAL, as the 6th and 7th free throw misses for LAL tonight (Dinwiddie) are countered with a Murray 3. Nuggets up 6.

Peyton Watson hit 2 3's in Game 1 here in Denver, but was 0 for 5 in Games 2-4 before hitting a triple to start the 4th Q here, allowing DEN to match its biggest lead of 5.

Prince responded w/2 FT's. LAL are 15 for 20 at the line, DEN 8 of 9.

Davis 1st half: 8 of 10 FG's, 16 points, 9 boards, 2 assists, held Jokic to 4 of 7 FG's and 4 assists to 4 TO's

Davis 3rd Q w/shoulder issue: 0 of 0 FG's, 8 minutes, 1 rebound, 1 assist, Jokic 5 of 8 FG's for 11 points

A wild 3rd Q here saw Denver outscore the Lakers 31-26 to flip the halftime margin, as the Nuggets now lead 81-79 with 12 minutes to play.

Nuggets took advantage of Anthony Davis being limited; we'll see what he can do in the 4th Q.