In another disappointing outcome, the Los Angeles Lakers suffered a 3-0 series deficit against the defending champions, the Denver Nuggets, on Thursday night. The Lakers’ struggles from beyond the arc were evident once again, and this has been a recurring issue for the team against the Nuggets over the past two seasons. D’Angelo Russell, in particular, had a difficult performance.

Russell, who was the subject of trade rumors leading up to the deadline this season, failed to score any points during the game. Consequently, he was benched during crucial moments. In addition to his scoring struggles, Russell recorded three rebounds and two assists while missing all seven of his field goal attempts. NBA fans expressed their opinions on Russell’s performance, with a unanimous sentiment that he should not see any more playing time in this series.

Adding to the frustration, Russell did not even join the team huddle in the late stages of the fourth quarter, indicating a lack of engagement. It is clear that the Lakers should not rely on him in Game 4. It is now time for the Lakers to move on from the former No. 2 overall draft pick and explore alternative options.