Monday night, the Denver Nuggets stunned the Los Angeles Lakers 101-99 and took a 2-0 lead in their Western Conference playoff series. Jamal Murray made a buzzer-beating 15-foot step-back jumper.
In the first few minutes, Murray’s fadeaway, falling-down game-winner gave the Nuggets their first lead since 5-3 and secured the 10th consecutive victory over the Lakers for the defending NBA champs.
Game 3 of the series is scheduled for Thursday night in Los Angeles.
With 16 seconds remaining and the score tied at 99, LeBron James missed a long range attempt, setting up Murray’s game-winning shot.
With 13 seconds remaining, Michael Porter Jr. pulled down the rebound, and the Nuggets chose not to use a timeout.
Rather, with Anthony Davis defending him, Murray stole the ball to the right side, took a step back, and swished the basket immediately as the buzzer sounded. With Ball Arena shaking from the noise of the sellout crowd, Murray and Davis both went into the Nuggets bench.
Nikola Jokic recorded a triple-double with 27 points, 20 rebounds, and 10 assists, while Murray finished with 20 points, including 14 in the fourth quarter. Aaron Gordon scored 14 points and Porter added 22 for Denver.
With 32 points, James had 26, D’Angelo Russell had 23 and a career-high seven three-pointers, while Davis led the Lakers.
The Lakers appeared to be winning over Denver as they led 59-44 at the half and increased their lead to 68-48 two minutes into the second half for the first time in 494 days. They still led by 10 entering the fourth quarter.
“I don’t have a 20-point play,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. “You’ve got to just keep chipping away.”
They eventually tied it at 95 points apiece with a 3-pointer made by Porter with 1:15 remaining.
With one minute remaining, Russell’s layup gave Los Angeles a 97-95 advantage, which was his largest basket. James fouled Murray, who made both of his free shots to tie the game.
With 48 seconds remaining, James answered for Los Angeles with a basket, but Murray tied him again with a step-back jumper with 30 seconds remaining. Thereafter, James missed a long-range shot, Porter grabbed the rebound, and the Nuggets were poised to make one of their biggest shots ever.
Murray hit 6-for-8 in the fourth quarter after going 3 of 16 at the beginning.
In the first few minutes, Russell matched his total of three-pointers made throughout the Lakers’ last five playoff games against Denver. He made just one of his nine 3s in the series opener after going 2-for-15 in the Western Conference finals last summer, which led to his benching in Game 4. He finished 7 of 11.
(AP)
