Jamal Murray on fire, Nikola Jokic bags triple-double as Nuggets beat Lakers to go up 2-0
As a result of Jamal Murray's fourth-quarter explosion to help the Nuggets defeat the Lakers 108-103 in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals, Denver will go to Los Angeles with a 2-0 lead.
The Nuggets guard mirrored the famous representation of himself from the 2020 playoffs.
Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic help Nuggets defeat Lakers in Game 2
Murray ended with a team-high 37 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, and four steals. With 23 points, 17 rebounds, 12 assists, and three steals, Nikola Jokic had a monster night.
Jamal Murray goes OFF in the 4th quarter to help Denver secure a 2-0 lead in the WCF!
— NBA (@NBA) May 19, 2023
37 PTS (23 PTS in the 4Q)
10 REB
6 3PM
DEN/LAL Game 2: Sat, 8:30 PM ET | ESPN pic.twitter.com/PhpvDALSzF
Murray was playing a terrible offensive game at the time. He had a 3-for-15 shooting percentage midway through the third quarter, when an irrational mistake allowed LeBron James to dunk and give the Los Angeles Lakers an 11-point advantage.
After a shaky start, Murray went from being unable to make shots to making them all, finishing with a game-high 37 points.
Denver completed every requirement to maintain home-court advantage for the first two games against the Lakers in the playoffs while remaining undefeated at home.
Throughout the whole game, Jokic kept the Nuggets in check despite the Lakers' shot-making.
The Joker was committed when he recorded his seventh triple-double of these playoffs, tying Wilt Chamberlain for the most in a single playoff in NBA history.
Nikola Jokic posts ANOTHER triple-double in the @nuggets Game 2 win!
— NBA (@NBA) May 19, 2023
23 PTS | 17 REB | 12 AST | 3 STL
WCF Game 3: Saturday, 10:30pm/et on ESPN pic.twitter.com/KPyZGELJny
Anthony Davis struggled from the field, scoring just 18 points on 4-of-15 shooting after scoring 40 points in Game 1.
LeBron James appeared to have succumbed to fatigue. Even while his final stat line of 22 points, 10 assists, and 9 rebounds seemed reasonable, a missed dunk attempt and a few errors in crucial late situations tainted those numbers.
As this series moves to Crypto.com Arena for Game 3 on May 20, the Lakers are down 2-0 in the series.
Related Articles: