DENVER -- As much as the story of the Los Angeles Lakers' season has been centered on the team looking to make up for its flameout in the Western Conference finals a year ago to chase a championship, there's also been a personal redemption arc for point guard D'Angelo Russell.
However Saturday's 114-103 Game 1 loss to the Denver Nuggets, when Russell missed 13 of his final 16 shot attempts and scored 13 points, brought to mind some of his past struggles.
"D-Lo is a huge reason why we're here in the first place," Lakers coach Darvin Ham said afterwards.