This series isn’t over yet, right? The Denver Nuggets have eked out a crucial 108-103 Game 2 victory as they exploded in the 4th quarter to take a 2-0 series lead, setting up two decisive games to be played in Los Angeles.
This feels like a really pivotal moment in the series.
Led by Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic, the Denver Nuggets overcame multiple Lakers leads to squeeze out of Denver with a 108-103 Game 2 victory to not only go up 2-0 in the series, but also (essentially) for the Lakers to win the next two games to have a hope of staying in the series. And, even though the Nuggets forfeited a 2-0 series lead against the Suns, I don’t think they’ll make the same mistake again.
Similarly to how the Lakers had a chance of stealing a game in Denver with their late comeback in Game 1, this was the game that the Lakers really needed to win to have a good chance of making to the team’s 33rd Finals appearances.
Honestly, everything about this game prior to the 9-minute mark of the 3rd quarter signaled a Lakers victory as they had a 55-48 halftime lead, a 79-76 lead going into the 4th quarter, had multiple 10+ point leads, had a lead as high as 11 points, four Lakers ended the game with at least 18 points, they racked up over 26 free throws (which is how they usually win games), they shot 88.5% (23-26) from the free throw line, and they only had 12 turnovers to the Nuggets 17.
So, with Jokic and Murray struggling from the field, it was very hard to see the Nuggets coming back into the game as Anthony Davis (18 PTS, 14 REB, 4 AST, 1 STL, 4 BLKs), LeBron James (22 PTS, 9 REB, 10 AST, 4 STLs, 2 BLKs), Austin Reaves (22 PTS, 3 REB, 5 AST, 1 STL) and Rui Hachimura (21 PTS, 2 REB, 1 AST, 1 STL, 8-10 FG shooting) all going off.
I mean, this was exactly the script of the 2020 playoffs as this veteran Lakers team was able to minimize Jokic (Murray tore his ACL early on in the postseason that year) and prevent the Nuggets perimeter scorers from getting settled. How were the Nuggets going to recover? Two words: Jamal Murray.
After having a woeful performance from the field in the first three quarters as he only shot 5-17 for 14 PTS, Murray turned into prime MJ in the 4th quarter as he scored 23 PTS, 10 REB, 5 AST, and 4 STLs to inspire the Nuggets comeback. It was honestly an incredible turnaround as he went from being the coldest shooter on the court to the one who simply couldn’t miss in the span of 15 seconds after his first floater over LeBron’s head went in.
Jokic, meanwhile, figured out how to exploit Rui Hachimura and LeBron’s defense on him as he scored yet another Triple-Double with 23 PTS, 17 REB, 12 AST, and 3 STLs, giving way for guys like Bruce Brown (15 PTS, 5 REB, 3 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK), Aaron Gordon (10 PTS, 4 REB, 2 AST, 1 BLK), and Michael Porter (16 PTS, 7 REB, 3 AST) to get in on the scoring.
And, when the Nuggets got hot, they got RED HOT as they burned the Lakers for a 15-1 unanswered point run, destroying the Lakers lead and giving way for a 12+ point advantage of their own in the final five minutes of the game.
Despite the best efforts of Austin Reaves (5-9 3-point shooting), who’s been the most consistent Laker across the entire postseason, the Lakers simply couldn’t keep up with a red-hot Murray and a free Joker as the Nuggets just hit 3 after 3 in their faces.
Now, Reaves, James, and AD did mount a mini comeback in the final 4-5 minutes as they brought the Nuggets lead down to 2 with a little over a minute left to play (102-99), but that’s where it all started to unravel as King James uncharacteristically choked in the biggest moment. First, he missed an easy layup to narrow the score as the Nuggets started making free throws, and then he was stripped of the ball with 11 seconds left to officially clinch Game 2 for Denver.
I know he’s dealing with a bad foot injury (which he seemed to reinjure in this game), but this is now two games in a row he’s cost his team with a costly late turnover. Granted the Lakers probably still lose by 2-3 as they were trailing by 5 PTS (and lost by 5 PTS), but the momentum and confidence losses that come with such costly late turnovers is hard for an inexperienced team to recovery from as they now face a 0-2 deficit.
As for the Nuggets, all they have to do is win one game in Los Angeles. That’s it!
If the keep up this fantastic home form, the Nuggets could win this series outright without needing to win in LA. But, seeing as how that would push this series to Game 7, I’m betting the Nuggets are going to be gunning for an LA win over these next two games. And, if they can secure said victory, they’re going to win this series and reach the franchises’ first-ever NBA Finals appearance.
The Lakers simply don’t have the depth or talent to overcome a 3-0 or 3-1 deficit.
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