Nuggets crush Lakers after halftime again to take 3-0 series lead

For the third straight game, the Lakers had a double-digit lead over the Nuggets. For the third straight game, the Lakers lost.

Denver outmuscled Los Angeles throughout the game and outscored Los Angeles 34-22 in the third quarter, taking command of a game the Lakers once led by double digits.

Despite 33 points from Anthony Davis, 26 points and nine assists from LeBron James and even 22 points and four steals from Austin Reaves, the Lakers lost to the Nuggets for the 11th straight time.

Even Charles Barkley was predicting a sweep, bringing out the broom on the TNT set after the game.

It simply felt like the Nuggets outlasted the Lakers, after Los Angeles got out to a red-hot start.

Over the course of the game, particularly the second half, the Nuggets simply looked like the fresher, more energetic and simply better team. Michael Porter Jr. had 20 points and 10 rebounds, and he's Denver's fourth-best player.

It's not clear who the Lakers' fourth-best player is, but D'Angelo Russell didn't score at all, and fellow starter Rui Hachimura only had five points. Even on a wretched three-point shooting night from Denver (5-for-28), L.A. couldn't take advantage, shooting 5-for-27.

Meanwhile, the Nuggets made up for some misses with 14 offensive rebounds to eight by the Lakers.

The Lakers will give all they've got to keep their season alive Saturday night. But after the end of Thursday's game, they may not have much left.