It took some time, but ‘Playoff Mal’ finally arrived and brought the house down. After struggling throughout Game 2 against the Lakers, Jamal Murray hit the game-winning shot as time expired, sending the sold-out Ball Arena crowd into a frenzy.
The remarkable turnaround erased a 20-point deficit and extended the Nuggets’ winning streak over the Lakers to 10 consecutive games. Denver now holds a 2-0 advantage in the series, with the following two games scheduled to take place in Los Angeles.
Murray’s winning shot came after LeBron James misfired from long range with 16 seconds remaining and the game tied at 99. Michael Porter Jr. secured the rebound with 13 seconds left, and rather than calling a timeout, the Nuggets opted for a quick play. Murray took the ball to the right with Anthony Davis guarding him, stepped back, and swished the basket just as the buzzer sounded.
Both Murray and Davis crashed into the Nuggets’ bench as the crowd erupted in thunderous applause. Murray finished with 20 points, including 14 in the fourth quarter, while Nikola Jokic notched a triple-double with 27 points, 20 rebounds, and 10 assists. Porter added 22 points, and Aaron Gordon contributed 14 for Denver.
Davis led the Lakers with 32 points, James had 26, and D’Angelo Russell added 23, including a career playoff-high seven 3s. Despite leading 59-44 at halftime and extending their advantage to 68-48 early in the second half, the Lakers ultimately fell short.
Game 3 of the series is scheduled for Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
