Former NBA star John Salley has criticized Anthony Davis for lacking the killer instinct needed to match up with Nikola Jokic, the Denver Nuggets’ dominant center. Salley believes this deficiency has contributed to the Lakers’ struggles against the Nuggets, who have won the last 10 games in a row against LA. Despite Davis’ impressive stats, Salley argues that his lack of aggression and hunger to win, a quality prevalent in the 90s, has been a major weakness for the Lakers.
Jamal Murray’s game-winning shot over Anthony Davis in Game 2 of the Nuggets-Lakers series has sent shockwaves through the NBA. The Lakers, who once held a 10+ point lead, squandered their advantage in back-to-back games, leaving fans and analysts questioning the team’s late-game execution.
FS1 analyst Skip Bayless seized the opportunity to criticize LeBron James, claiming the four-time Finals MVP lacks the “clutch gene.” Bayless pointed to James’ missed three-pointer with 16.9 seconds remaining, comparing it unfavorably to similar shots made by Kobe Bryant and Magic Johnson.
Paul Pierce, another former NBA champion, echoed Bayless’ concerns, highlighting the Lakers’ repeated inability to close out games. Pierce lamented Anthony Davis’ lack of clutch performance and noted that the team’s late-game mishaps mirror their struggles in the 2023 Western Conference Finals.
The NBA has endorsed the officiating decisions made by officials during the final two minutes of the Los Angeles Lakers’ 101-99 playoff loss to the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday night. The Lakers, who led by as many as 20 points in the third quarter, lodged complaints after the game, including a buzzer-beating shot by Denver’s Jamal Murray and a foul called on LeBron James late in the game. The NBA’s two-minute report, which evaluates officiating decisions made late in games, identified only one error: Nikola Jokic should have been called for a defensive three-second violation with 1:53 remaining in the game. The report also confirmed that the foul called on James was correct, as he extended his forearm and initiated contact with Murray. The Lakers also protested a non-shooting foul called on Michael Porter Jr. late in the third quarter, which was overturned after a challenge by Nuggets coach Michael Malone. LeBron James expressed frustration with the replay center that reviews contested calls, questioning its effectiveness. Lakers coach Darvin Ham acknowledged the tough calls and non-calls, emphasizing the inconsistency in officiating during the season and playoffs.
The NBA and Denver police are investigating an incident that took place after the Denver Nuggets’ playoff victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. A man, reported to be the brother of Nuggets star Nikola Jokic, was seen punching a fan in the face. The Nuggets had come back from a 20-point deficit to win the game and take a 2-0 lead in the series. The NBA has confirmed that they are investigating the matter, and the Denver police are also looking into the incident. No one has come forward as a victim, but the police are actively working to identify the person who was struck and encourage anyone who witnessed the altercation to contact them.
Nuggets guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s gesture following Jamal Murray’s buzzer-beater over Anthony Davis in Game 2 of the Lakers-Nuggets playoff series has earned him praise for his sportsmanship. Despite his team’s intense playoff battle, Caldwell-Pope stepped in to ensure his former Lakers teammate, Davis, was safe as Denver celebrated its victory.
Nikola Jokic’s brother, Strahinja, punched a fan in the stands after the Nuggets’ victory over the Lakers. The incident occurred shortly after the game ended, and it was caught on video. The NBA is currently investigating the situation.
Verno and KOC analyze the key moments and storylines from Monday night’s NBA playoff games, including Jamal Murray’s game-winner against the Lakers, the Knicks’ gritty win over the Sixers, the Cavs’ new-found identity, the Timberwolves’ potential with Anthony Edwards, Khris Middleton’s importance to the Bucks, the Mavs-Clippers series dynamic, and the Pelicans’ chances against the Thunder.
In the ongoing NBA playoffs, the Denver Nuggets sensationally defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 101-99 to take a commanding 2-0 lead in their series. The game-winning shot was made by Jamal Murray over Anthony Davis, leaving the Lakers with an uphill battle to stay in the series. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Clippers started their series against the Dallas Mavericks with a 109-97 victory. Terance Mann and Amir Coffey played pivotal defensive roles in containing the dynamic duo of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, despite their combined 64 points.
The Denver Nuggets pulled off a stunning 101-99 Game 2 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, taking a 2-0 lead in their first-round NBA playoff series. Jamal Murray’s clutch fadeaway jumper at the buzzer sealed the comeback win for the Nuggets, who overcame a 20-point deficit and held the Lakers to just 40 points in the second half.
