3 weeks ago
Denver Nuggets defender Jamal Murray (R) struggled early, but scored 14 points successful nan 4th fourth to spark a triumph complete nan Los Angeles Lakers connected Monday successful Denver. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
April 23 (UPI) -- Jamal Murray stepped back, flicked up a changeable and fell to nan crushed arsenic he watched nan shot gaffe down nan nett astatine nan buzzer, starring nan Denver Nuggets complete nan Los Angeles Lakers successful Game 2 of their playoff series.
The Nuggets guard, who missed 13 of his first 16 shots, scored 14 of his 20 points successful nan 4th fourth of nan 101-99 triumph Monday astatine Ball Arena successful Denver. His buzzer-beating jumper resulted successful a 2-0 bid lead for nan defending champions.
"I told my teammates erstwhile I was struggling, 'I'm gonna look for y'all,' and each azygous 1 of them told maine to support shooting," Murray told reporters.
The Nuggets trailed by arsenic galore arsenic 20 points successful nan 2nd half earlier Murray spearheaded their melodramatic rally.
"I don't person a 20-point play," Nuggets coach Mike Malone said of nan comeback victory. "You've sewage to conscionable support chipping away."
The Nuggets took nan lead doubly done nan first 2 minutes of Game 2. The Lakers past went connected a 10-2 first-quarter tally and held nan lead until their were conscionable 75 seconds remaining successful nan game.
Murray went connected to people nan Nuggets' last six points, including his 16-foot fadeaway jumper for nan win.
"Twenty-point leads successful this convention are not safe, particularly against a defending champion," Lakers guardant LeBron James said. "We've gotta do amended pinch that. But we had our chances."
The Lakers outshot nan Nuggets 48.7% to 44.3%. They besides outshot nan Nuggets 43.3% to 23.5% from 3-point range. The Nuggets held a 45-38 separator successful rebounding and 54-38 advantage successful points successful nan paint.
Star prima halfway Nikola Jokic registered 10 points and 10 rebounds done nan first 12 minutes of nan game, but nan Nuggets still trailed 28-24 to commencement nan 2nd quarter.
Lakers halfway Anthony Davis poured successful 14 points complete nan adjacent 12 minutes to springiness his squad a 59-44 lead astatine halftime. The Nuggets outscored nan Lakers 25-20 successful nan 3rd to trim into nan deficit, but still trailed 79-69 to commencement nan fourth.
Murray, who was 3 of 16 done nan first 3 quarters, past caught occurrence late, making six of his last 8 shots. The Nuggets utilized a 10-1 tally to trim nan shortage to 83-81 midway done nan 4th quarter.
James answered pinch 2 consecutive 3-pointers to snatch backmost momentum for nan Lakers. Nuggets guardant Michael Porter Jr. past capped disconnected an 8-1 tally pinch a game-tying 3-pointer pinch 1:15 remaining.
Lakers defender D'Angelo Russell answered pinch a go-ahead layup. Murray past sank 2 free throws. James deed different go-ahead layup 10 seconds later, but Murray responded pinch a jumper to necktie nan crippled for nan last clip pinch 30 seconds remaining.
James calmly took a go-ahead 3-point effort connected nan adjacent possession, but nan changeable clanked disconnected nan backmost of nan rim. Murray proceeded to dribble up nan near flank toward half court.
He past utilized a bid of screens to get distant from James and drew Davis arsenic a defender connected nan correct side. Murray initially utilized a hesitation move to get Davis disconnected balance. He past flew toward nan rim, earlier stepping backmost and releasing his game-winning shot.
Jokic recorded a 27-point, 20-rebound, 10-assist triple-double for nan Nuggets. Porter chipped successful 22 points and 9 rebounds successful nan victory.
James logged 26 points, 12 assists and 8 rebounds for nan Lakers. Davis totaled 32 points and 11 rebounds successful nan loss.
The No. 7 Lakers (0-2) will big nan No. 2 Nuggets (2-0) successful Game 3 of nan best-of-seven bid astatine 10 p.m. EDT Thursday successful Los Angeles. Game 4 will beryllium Saturday successful Los Angeles.
The victor of nan bid will meet nan No. 3 Minnesota Timberwolves aliases No. 6 Phoenix Suns successful nan Western Conference semifinals. The Timberwolves hit nan Suns 120-95 successful Game 1 of their first-round bid Saturday successful Minneapolis. Game 2 will beryllium astatine 7:30 p.m. Tuesday successful Minneapolis.
