Los Angeles Lakers: Why we can expect a win in Game 4 vs. Nuggets

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 22: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives the ball against Torrey Craig #3 of the Denver Nuggets during the second quarter in Game Three of the Western Conference Finals during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 22, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 22: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives the ball against Torrey Craig #3 of the Denver Nuggets during the second quarter in Game Three of the Western Conference Finals during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 22, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
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LeBron James
(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers dropped Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals and now find themselves in a series.

The result of Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals really is a massive deal for both teams. If the Los Angeles Lakers won then they would be up 3-0 and despite the Nuggets’ two 3-1 series comebacks, the series would have essentially been a wrap.

Instead, the Nuggets pulled away victorious and are now only trailing 2-1 in the series, which is vastly different. If Denver strings together a second win in Game 4 then we suddenly have a best of three series, which quite frankly, either team could win.

Luckily for the Lakers, it feels like the team is going to go up 3-1 with a win in Game 4 and will then have to avoid a third-straight 3-1 comeback.

I boldly did claim that the Nuggets would not win another game in this series and that was obviously wrong. Hopefully, this is not also jinxing Game 4 for the Lakers.

When looking at Game 3, though, it is quite clear that almost everything went right for the Nuggets, which is not something that any NBA team can expect in every single game. In fact, there were three anomalies that we can take from this game and expect them to be flipped for Game 4, which should flip the result.

Let’s break them down.