Photos: Phoenix Mercury Center Brittney Griner

LOS ANGELES — As Nuggets and Lakers alike filtered back onto the floor and started to get shots up, the tension in the sea-level air wasn’t a feeling of unfinished business, but rather un-started. The Lakers led 53-49, but Game 3 hadn’t truly tipped off yet. Every player, coach and spectator in Crypto.com Arena understood the reality: The second half is the battleground of this series. And within two minutes of this battle, it no longer mattered that Denver trailed the entire first half, because Denver was back in front, back in charge, back in control of this Sisyphean cycle the Lakers can never escape.

The Post’s sports staff weighs in with grades after the Denver Broncos drafted Oregon quarterback Bo Nix with the 12th overall pick on Day 1 of the NFL Draft. Parker Gabriel, Broncos beat writer Grade: B- The gut reaction to this pick is going to be almost entirely driven by the strength of trust in Sean Payton to pick a quarterback.

Bo Nix, you’ve got next. The Broncos’ eight-year quarterback nightmare added its latest contestant, a precision passer who nearly won the Heisman after transferring from Auburn to Oregon. Quack is not whack. Nix brings experience. At 24, he is not your normal rookie. He is mature and married. Most kids who spend this long in college leave as PhDs, not as QBs.

If you’re wondering why one of the Jaguars’ executives appears to be injured, the answer is simple: the son of the late actor Luke Perry attacked him, along with several other pro wrestlers. Related Articles NFL | Broncos coach Sean Payton on trade for QB Zach Wilson: “We saw talent” NFL | Best available Day 2 prospects for Broncos: Without trade activity ramping up, Denver has long wait until No.

Here are the winners and losers from an eventful first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday night. Winners Southern California quarterback Caleb Williams celebrates after being chosen by the Chicago Bears with the first overall pick during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Detroit.

So many months, meetings and miles later, the Broncos’ first-round plan proved so simple it translates into two letters. Bo. Denver set its course for the future and coach Sean Payton put his quarterback evaluation chops on the line in a major way Thursday night by selecting Oregon quarterback Bo Nix at No.