The Los Angeles Lakers suffered their worst defeat in nearly three years at the hands of the Denver Nuggets on Saturday night at Ball Arena. The Lakers fell 133-96 — the latest in a string of porous defensive performances. Yet, Dwight Howard remains hopeful.

43 games into the season, the Lakers, losers of three straight, sit one game under .500 (21-22). Yes, Anthony Davis remains out with an MCL sprain, but the Lakers have simply made little-to-no progress with the roster they voluntarily overhauled and expected to compete for a championship.

Howard — a four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year — isn't throwing in the towel.

“Can't stop believing that you're gonna win and just say, ‘F*ck it, let's give up'” he sullenly said postgame. “We know we've put ourselves in a pretty tough predicament, but all it takes is a couple games and some good energy and some positivity.”

The Lakers have mostly turned to small-ball, “centerless” basketball sans AD, but Frank Vogel started Howard to try and contain the reigning MVP, Nikola Jokic. Things started promisingly enough: Dwight had 11 points in the first period and provided his usual spark of energy.

However, Jokic began slow-cooking Dwight and creating a bevy of open looks for his teammates. Denver started making everything, and the Lakers' defensive effort wilted as the game wore on.

Like Russell Westbrook (and Magic Johnson), Howard lamented yet another uninspired showing on the defensive end.

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“I'm disappointed losing like this,” he said. “The conversation about playing better defense, we shouldn't have to have that conversation. We should all be tired of hearing it and make a difference. … It shouldn't keep coming up.

“It's, how bad do we want to win every night?” he added. “We haven't really been consistent all year with that. We have to figure out a way to change that.”

It won't get easier, as the Lakers face the Utah Jazz on Monday.