In the ongoing series, Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone has been stressing the importance of strong starts to his team. Despite their ability to mount comebacks from double-digit deficits in the first three games against the Los Angeles Lakers, Malone knew they couldn't always rely on turning things around in the second half. However, in Game 4, the Nuggets stumbled right out of the gate. Several players, due to a mix-up, ended up without shoes during their warm-ups before the game, a mishap that left Malone hoping for a quick resolution to ensure it never happened again.
Malone didn't use the shoe incident as an excuse for their 119-108 loss. Instead, he was more concerned about the Lakers' impressive scoring in the paint, with 72 points coming from that area in Game 4 alone, the most they've scored in a playoff game in the last 25 years. The Lakers' ability to drive to the basket and feed Anthony Davis inside has posed a significant challenge to the Nuggets, particularly Nikola Jokic, who faced foul trouble in both games in Los Angeles.
The Nuggets' usual second-half heroics weren't enough in Game 4, as the Lakers maintained their lead, unlike the previous three games where Denver managed to stage comebacks. Although the Nuggets narrowed the gap in the fourth quarter, the Lakers always seemed to have an answer, thwarting any hopes of a Denver resurgence.
Denver's Michael Porter Jr. was one of the players affected by the shoe mishap but refused to blame it for their loss. Despite a rocky start, he finished the game with 27 points, shooting 50% from the field. Looking ahead to Game 5 in Denver, Porter emphasized the importance of learning from their mistakes and getting off to a better start to avoid having to mount yet another comeback.
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