LeBron James and the Lakers cannot find an answer for the Nuggets.
After blowing a 20-point lead in Game 2 of the 2024 NBA Playoffs, LA has lost 10 consecutive games to Denver. The losing streak includes a sweep in the 2023 Western Conference Finals, a sweep in the 2023-24 regular season and the first two games of the 2024 playoffs.
James did what he could in LA’s most recent loss, flirting with a triple-double, but it wasn’t enough, a common trend during his team’s extended losing streak to the Nuggets.
Here is what you need to know about what James has — and hasn’t — done against the defending champs.
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LeBron James Game 2 stats vs. Nuggets
James finished Game 2 with 26 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds while shooting 9-of-19 from the field, 3-of-6 from 3-point range and 5-of-7 from the free throw line. He scored 12 of his 26 points in the final 6:25 of the game.
As the numbers suggest, James’ scoring came during the game’s most crucial spots, including back-to-back triples to put LA up by eight, a clutch and-one finish, a steal and dunk in transition, and a driving layup that gave the Lakers their final lead of the night.
4TH QUARTER IS HEATING UP IN DENVER 🔥
LEBRON DRILLS BACK-TO-BACK TRIPLES… LAL leads by 6 on TNT pic.twitter.com/4XMNdzT6g3
— NBA (@NBA) April 23, 2024
Conversely, James failed to complete the and-one at the free throw line and couldn’t connect on a 3-pointer to give LA a lead with 16 seconds left, leaving the door open for Jamal Murray’s buzzer-beater.
MORE: How Jamal Murray sanks Lakers with Game 2 buzzer-beater
LeBron James stats vs. Nuggets during losing streak
As the Lakers look to get over the hump, they will need the same level of contribution from James, if not more.
In Game 4 of the 2023 Western Conference Finals, James turned back the clock to score 31 of his game-high 40 points in the first half, but it still was not enough.
Here’s how he’s looked in last year’s playoffs, this year’s regular season and the first two games of the 2024 NBA Playoffs:
| Games | Points | Rebounds | Assists | FG% | |
| 2023 West Finals | 4 | 27.8 | 9.5 | 10.0 | .519 |
| 2023-24 Regular Season | 3 | 24.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | .554 |
| 2024 First Round | 2 | 26.5 | 7.0 | 10.0 | .543 |
After shooting an abysmal 26.9 percent from 3-point range during the 2023 Western Conference Finals, James has drained six of his first 11 3-point attempts against Denver in the 2024 NBA Playoffs.
Aside from a few missed free throws, James’ biggest recent shortcoming has been turnovers. He committed seven in Game 1 before cleaning things up and limiting his turnovers to two in Game 2.
As the series shifts back to Los Angeles, the Lakers will need more of the same from James while role players will be depended upon to step up at home.
MORE: This is the Lakers’ best option to slow down Nikola Jokic
Lakers losing streak vs. Nuggets
The Lakers have not defeated the Nuggets since Dec.16, 2022.
To put the length of the streak in perspective, LA’s starting lineup for that game featured James, Patrick Beverley, Anthony Davis, Dennis Schroder and Lonnie Walker IV. Russell Westbrook recorded a triple-double off the bench.
Here’s what has happened since:
| Date | Result | James stats |
| Jan. 9, 2023 | Nuggets 122, Lakers 109 | DNP |
| May 16, 2023* | Nuggets 132, Lakers 126 | 26 PTS, 12 REB, 9 AST |
| May 18, 2023* | Nuggets 108, Lakers 103 | 22 PTS, 9 REB, 10 AST |
| May 20, 2023* | Nuggets 119, Lakers 108 | 23 PTS, 7 REB, 12 AST |
| May 22, 2023* | Nuggets 113, Lakers 111 | 40 PTS, 10 REB, 9 AST |
| Oct. 24, 2023 | Nuggets 119, Lakers 107 | 21 PTS, 8 REB, 5 AST |
| Feb. 8, 2024 | Nuggets 114, Lakers 106 | 25 PTS, 9 REB, 7 AST |
| March 2, 2024 | Nuggets 124, Lakers 114 | 26 PTS, 4 REB, 9 AST |
| April 20, 2024* | Nuggets 114, Lakers 103 | 27 PTS, 6 REB, 8 AST |
| April 22, 2024* | Nuggets 101, Lakers 99 | 26 PTS, 8 REB, 12 AST |
*NBA Playoffs