Former Boston Celtics star Paul Pierce made a bold statement on the latest episode of Undisputed, asserting that the Los Angeles Lakers are destined to be swept by the Denver Nuggets in their first-round series.
During the show, Pierce jokingly pulled out a broom, symbolizing his belief that the Lakers have no chance of overcoming the Nuggets’ dominance.
“You can do all you can do with the talent that you got. And they just not as talented as the Denver Nuggets. I mean, 11 straight,” Pierce said.
“They came out same old song, same old song. We just put it on repeat. We come out 8-0 run, up 10 after 1 [quarter]. Then it’s all downhill from there. This is just what I said before the playoffs started – this is a bad matchup for the Lakers.”
Pierce’s proclamation came in the wake of the Nuggets’ commanding 112-105 victory over the Lakers in Game 3, putting the defending champions on the brink of elimination.
Led by stellar performances from Aaron Gordon and Nikola Jokic, the Nuggets showcased their championship pedigree, extending their winning streak over the Lakers to 11 games.
Gordon’s 29 points and 15 rebounds, coupled with Jokic’s 24 points and nine assists, proved too much for the Lakers to handle, leaving them trailing 0-3 in the series.
Despite commendable efforts from Anthony Davis and LeBron James, who combined for 59 points, the Lakers failed to capitalize on crucial opportunities, particularly from beyond the arc.
The Lakers’ role players struggled to provide adequate support, with D’Angelo Russell going scoreless and Rui Hachimura contributing only five points, further exacerbating their woes.
