DENVER — History would suggest the Denver Nuggets are in control of their first-round series against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Forty-four teams who have taken 3-0 leads have closed the series in five games – the opportunity before the Nuggets Monday night at Ball Arena. Los Angeles has held a lead for more than 136 of the 192 minutes played through four games – or more than 70% of the series. The Nuggets have led for less than 42 minutes of game play, and the teams have spent roughly 14 minutes of it with the score tied.
The Lakers led from the opening bucket to the final whistle in Game 4. They’ve led at the half and held a double-digit lead at some point in each of the four games.“There is no panic. We have a chance to go out and close it, but the challenge within that is that we can’t continue to play like this,” he said. “The are not rolling over. They are not going to give us the first round. We are going to have to earn it and take it.