April 23, 2024, 01:21 AM ET
DENVER — In a stunning conclusion, Jamal Murray drilled a step-back jumper from 15 feet as time expired, propelling the Denver Nuggets to a remarkable turnaround, overturning a 20-point deficit in the latter half to edge out the Los Angeles Lakers 101-99 on Monday night, advancing to a 2-0 series lead in their Western Conference playoff clash.
Murray’s heroics, a fadeaway jumper as the clock wound down, marked Denver’s first advantage since an early 5-3 lead and extended the Nuggets’ dominance over the Lakers to ten straight victories. This buzzer-beating win, arising from a 20-point comeback, is the third such instance in the last 25 NBA postseasons.
The contest now moves to Los Angeles for the third game on Thursday night.
Murray’s memorable basket succeeded a LeBron James miss from distance with 16 ticks left on the clock, the scores deadlocked at 99.
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Michael Porter Jr. secured the rebound with 13 seconds to spare as the Nuggets opted against calling a timeout.
Opting to take matters into his own hands, Murray maneuvered to the right, eluding Anthony Davis, and let loose a perfect shot just as time ran out. Murray and Davis both toppled into Denver’s sideline to the thunderous cheers of the sellout crowd at Ball Arena.
Murray tallied 20 points, with 14 coming in the final quarter, while Nikola Jokic achieved a triple-double, amassing 27 points, 20 rebounds, and 10 assists. Porter contributed 22 points, and Aaron Gordon added 14 for the Nuggets.
Davis topped the Lakers’ scoring with 32 points, followed by James with 26 and D’Angelo Russell, who notched 23 points accompanied by a career-high seven 3-pointers in postseason play.
The Lakers enjoyed a 59-44 lead at the intermission and soon expanded their lead to 68-48 shortly into the third quarter, signaling a likely victory over Denver for the first time in 494 days. However, by the fourth quarter, the Lakers’ lead had dwindled to 10.
“There’s not a single play that can recapture 20 points,” stated Nuggets coach Michael Malone. “You have to gradually whittle down the lead.”
And whittle it down they did, drawing even at 95 each on Porter’s triple with just 1:15 remaining.
Russell’s defining moment came with a basket driving to the hoop, nudging L.A. ahead 97-95 with 60 seconds remaining. Murray was fouled by James and converted both shots from the charity stripe, evening the score once more.
James answered back with a layup for the Lakers with 48 seconds on the clock but was matched by Murray’s jump shot with half a minute remaining. Following James’s failed attempt from beyond the arc, Porter grabbed the rebound, setting up the Nuggets for one of the franchise’s most epic moments.
Despite beginning with a mere 3-of-16 from the field, Murray’s clutch performance saw him finish the fourth quarter 6-for-8.
Russell started off strong, sinking three 3-pointers in the initial stages, equaling his total from L.A.’s previous five postseason battles with Denver. In the series opener, he managed only a single three-pointer after a dismal 2-for-15 showing in the previous year’s Western Conference finals, which contributed to his benching in the fourth game. He closed this game 7-for-11.
Contributions to this report were made by ESPN Stats & Information and The Associated Press.
Source : www.espn.com
How did the Denver Nuggets manage to secure a comeback win against the Los Angeles Lakers in the playoff series?
The Denver Nuggets managed to secure a comeback victory against the Los Angeles Lakers by erasing a 20-point deficit in the second half. The key moments in their comeback included a strong performance in the fourth quarter, where Jamal Murray scored 14 of his 20 points, and Nikola Jokic contributing a triple-double with 27 points, 20 rebounds, and 10 assists.
Despite trailing by a significant margin, the Nuggets kept chipping away at the Lakers’ lead. They eventually tied the game at 95 on a 3-pointer from Michael Porter Jr. with just over a minute left to play. Both teams exchanged leads in the final minute, with Murray and LeBron James trading baskets.
The defining moment was in the last seconds of the game when Jamal Murray, after LeBron James missed a long-range attempt, took the ball down the court and hit a falling-down, step-back jumper just as the buzzer sounded, giving the Nuggets their first lead since the game’s opening minutes and sealing the win at 101-99. This dramatic finish provided the Nuggets with a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference playoff series.
How did Jamal Murray contribute to the Nuggets’ comeback win?
Jamal Murray was instrumental in the Nuggets’ comeback win against the Lakers. His contribution was crucial, particularly in the fourth quarter. Despite having a rough start to the game, making just 3 of his initial 16 shots, Murray ignited in the final quarter, where he racked up 14 of his total 20 points, demonstrating his resilience and ability to deliver under pressure.
His most critical contribution was in the closing moments of the game. With the game tied at 99 and the clock winding down, he took matters into his own hands after Michael Porter Jr. secured a rebound from a LeBron James missed three-pointer. Murray advanced the ball and, without calling a timeout, created space against defender Anthony Davis. He executed a step-back, fadeaway jumper, sinking the ball as the buzzer went off. This basket marked the decisive moment, securing the Nuggets’ lead for the first time since the opening minutes and clinching the game 101-99.
Murray’s dramatic buzzer-beater not only capped off the Nuggets’ remarkable comeback but also provided them with a significant 2-0 series lead in the Western Conference playoffs. His performance in clutch time exemplified his role as a pivotal player and underscored his importance to the Nuggets’ success.