04/23/24 12:08:00
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04/23 00:06 CDT Jamal Murray sinks shot at buzzer to cap 20-point comeback and
lead Nuggets past Lakers 101-99
Jamal Murray sinks shot at buzzer to cap 20-point comeback and lead Nuggets
past Lakers 101-99
By ARNIE STAPLETON
AP Sports Writer
DENVER (AP) --- Jamal Murray sank a 15-foot step-back jumper at the buzzer and
the Denver Nuggets wiped out a 20-point second-half deficit to stun the Los
Angeles Lakers 101-99 Monday night and take a 2-0 lead in their Western
Conference playoff series.
Murray's fadeaway, falling-down game-winner provided the Nuggets with their
first lead since 5-3 in the opening minutes and gave the reigning NBA champions
their 10th consecutive win over the Lakers.
The series shifts to Los Angeles for Game 3 Thursday night.
Murray's winning shot came after LeBron James misfired from long range with 16
seconds left and the game tied at 99.
Michael Porter Jr. grabbed the rebound with 13 seconds left and the Nuggets
didn't call a timeout.
Instead, Murray took the ball to the right side with Anthony Davis guarding
him, stepped back and swished the basket just as the buzzer sounded. Both
Murray and Davis fell into the Nuggets' bench as the sellout crowd's roar shook
Ball Arena.
Murray finished with 20 points, including 14 in the fourth quarter, and Nikola
Jokic posted a triple-double with 27 points, 20 boards and 10 assists. Porter
added 22 points and Aaron Gordon 14 for Denver.
Davis led the Lakers with 32 points, James had 26 and D'Angelo Russell added 23
with a career playoff-high seven 3s.
The Lakers led 59-44 at halftime and stretched their advantage to 68-48 two
minutes into the second half, and it sure looked like L.A. would beat Denver
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."
That, they did, finally tying it at 95-all on Porter's 3-pointer with 1:15 left.
Russell's biggest basket was his layup that gave L.A. a 97-95 lead with a
minute to go. Murray was fouled by James and sank both free throws to tie it
again.
James responded with a layup for L.A. with 48 seconds left but Murray matched
him again with a step-back jumper at 30 seconds. Then, James missed from long
range, Porter corralled the rebound and the Nuggets were on their way to one of
the biggest shots in franchise history.
Murray, who started out 3 of 16, went 6-for-8 in the fourth quarter.
Russell sank three 3s in the opening minutes, matching the number of 3-pointers
he had in 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.
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