Denver is only 2-1 behind the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference final after its victory (114-106) on Tuesday. The Nuggets have resisted a big comeback from LeBron James’ teammates.
Denver revived in the Western Conference Finals in the NBA by winning against the Los Angeles Lakers (114-106) on Tuesday in Game 3. The Nuggets are only 2-1 down. Aggressive as they should be, their backs to the wall after two defeats, the last of which was difficult to swallow after a buzzer shot from Anthony Davis, Jamal Murray’s teammates showed that they had digested this episode well and were the best team on the court.
20 to 3 points ahead
But this domination, which peaked at 20 points at the very end of the third quarter, turned into failure in the space of six minutes, where losses of balls – six in a row! – in baskets against counterattacks, the gap has been reduced to three points.
A miracle for the Lakers, totally underwater for three quarters and who saw themselves trapping the Nuggets at their own game, that of the fantastic lifts that allowed them to find themselves at this stage of the play-offs at the expense of the Clippers.
Jamal Murray’s clutch three was ridiculous ? pic.twitter.com/BnMZNe5EkX
– SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 23, 2020
But they were saved by Murray (28 pts, 12 assists, 8 rebounds) author of two long distance baskets and some decisive money-time offerings which came to extinguish the fire. At his side, he was able to count on the big contribution of Jerami Grant author of 26 points, his personal best in the play-offs, and on Nikola Jokic who especially weighed in the first period (22 pts, 10 rebounds).
For its part, LA pays too much defensive passivity especially inside (44 rebounds to 25) and many losses of balls (16), which resulted in opposing baskets in transition. LeBron James (30 pts, 11 assists, 10 rebounds) may well have released the 26th triple-double of his career in the play-offs (he is four units from Magic Johnson’s NBA record), it was not enough to hide the inconsistencies of most of his teammates.
Thus, if Anthony Davis was prolific in points (27), he did not weigh in the rebound (2) or in defense, unlike Rajon Rondo (9 pts, 8 assists), still formidable in self-sacrifice with his three interceptions in a row that revived the Lakers. In vain. Episode 4 of this restarted duel, Thursday.
