Anthony Davis made 14 straight field goals.
D’Angelo Russell tied a playoff-career high in three-pointers made with seven.
Even LeBron James scored 12 fourth quarter points.
And yet, the Lakers couldn’t solve the Denver Nuggets problem with Jamal Murray breaking the Los Angeles’ hearts in Mile High City.
Murray scored the final six points, including the game-winning jumper over Davis, and the defending champ Nuggets came back from 20 points down to stun the Lakers, 101–99, to claim a 2-0 series lead in their West opening-round duel.
WHAT A WIN 🔥
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) April 23, 2024
DENVER TAKES GAME 2 🗣?
Jokic: 27 PTS | 20 REB | 10 AST
Murray: 20 PTS | 5 AST | 2 BLK pic.twitter.com/Q72SzTrOFt
The former All-Star sank two-free throws to tie it the game, 97-97, with 57 seconds left.
After James drove to the basket to put the Lakers back in front, Murray drained a jumper to tie things up at 99-apiece. James then missed a triple with a three-pointer with 16 seconds left that sets-up Murray’s game-winning basket in the last possession of the regulation.
WHAT A BUCKET. THIS IS JAMAL MURRAY EVERYONE. 🏹 pic.twitter.com/xfihf0lXAe
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) April 23, 2024
Game 3 of the series on Friday (Philippine time) as the series now shifts to Los Angeles.
Nikola Jokic had another monster game, delivering 27 points, 20 rebounds, and 10 assists, tying Wilt Chamberlain with the most playoff career games of 20+ points, 20+ rebounds, and 10+ assists at four.
Nikola Jokic has 4 career playoff games with 20+ PTS • 20+ REB • 10+ AST.
— StatMamba (@StatMamba) April 23, 2024
That ties Wilt Chamberlain for most all-time. pic.twitter.com/M07RPp3H1J
Murray added 20, including 14 in the final frame, but struggled on the field going for 9-out-20 with Michael Porter Jr. adding 22 and Aaron Gordon chipping in 14.
The victory is the Nuggets' 10th straight win over the Lakers dating back to the final regular-season game between them in 2022-23.
Meanwhile, Davis topscored the Lakers with 32 points, James had 26, and D'Angelo Russell added 23 with a career playoff-high seven threes.
The Lakers led 59-44 at halftime with Davis exploding for 24 first half points, making a personal-high 11 straight field goals after missing his first attempt.
Anthony Davis had a DOMINANT 1st half 💪
— NBA (@NBA) April 23, 2024
24 PTS
11-12 FGM
6 REB
Lakers lead 59-44 at halftime in the #NBAPlayoffs presented by Google Pixel! pic.twitter.com/0G63qfMOIh
Los Angeles stretched their advantage to 68-48 two minutes into the second half after an Austin Reaves triple.
But the Purple and Gold squad got outscored, 57-40, in the second half and despite a +15 advantage in three pointers made, they got outrebounded, 45-39, and had 15 turnovers compared to the Nuggets’ nine.
