Rui Hachimura has very worrying comment about LA Lakers after Nuggets loss, speaks on Russell Westbrook

The Los Angeles Lakers suffered their worst result of the month in a blowout loss at home to the Denver Nuggets.

Nikola Jokic accelerated his MVP case with a big 34-13-8 night against the LA Lakers, which the home team had no answer for.

The Lakers had actually led at half-time, before a dominant third quarter for the Nuggets changed the game, with Denver winning 127-102.

It was a big collapse, with Lakers legend James Worthy calling out Anthony Davis for a lack of aggressiveness in his performance.

Rui Hachimura spoke openly after the Lakers loss in Denver, and made a very honest admission, confessing that the visiting team simply played harder.

It was a situation he admitted the Lakers had no answer for, even with Denver on the second night of a back-to-back.

Hachimura told a press conference: “I think we had a good rhythm, and then we kind of relaxed for some reason the third quarter. They just played harder, and we just couldn’t. We didn’t fight back.

“I know they were playing back to back. Last night they played, and they were tired, but they just played harder than us.”

Hachimura was making his return to the starting line-up for the first time in 10 days, previously playing in the win over Memphis.

His comments speak to a worrying mental side of the Lakers game, that they were not ready for the intensity of the game against the Nuggets, a team who have had their number in recent seasons.

Denver have won winning 13 of the last 14 games against the Lakers, including playoff match-ups.

Losing games is inevitable during the season. But losing without ‘playing hard’ is unacceptable, and Hachimura’s comments are worrying, even if his openness is to be commended.

The Nuggets’ victory was inspired by Nikola Jokic’s dominant performance, but he was not the only one to play well.

Former Laker Russell Westbrook has been making big improvements, and Denver are happy with his performances.

He went 14-7-11 against the Lakers, shy of a triple-double, but he didn’t need to get there, with Denver easing to a 25 point margin victory.

Hachimura praised Westbook’s game, and admitted Westbrook will always play hard against the Lakers because he has a point to prove after his unhappy time in LA.

“He bring the energy to the team. You know, see, the offense, defense, stealing the ball, diving the floor, you know, scoring the ball, whatever it is, you know, he bring the energy.

“And he, of course, feels some type of way. You know, against, always, against us. So, he gonna play so hard. He for sure he changed the game, he brought the energy for the team.”

Denver were without Jamal Murray too, and the Lakers have a lot to reflect on. They must play ‘harder’ and with the motivation Westbrook and co. brought, next time they face the Nuggets.

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