Jamal Murray saved the Denver Nuggets in Game 2 of their playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers with a clutch buzzer-beater over Anthony Davis. After a slow start, Murray scored 14 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter, helping the team complete a 20-point comeback. The Nuggets now trail 0-2 as they head to Los Angeles for Game 3. This buzzer-beater was just the third in playoff history to complete such a large comeback, marking a significant moment for the Nuggets.
In the first half, Anthony Davis dominated with 24 points on an impressive 11 of 12 shooting. With Davis leading the charge, the Lakers built a 15-point lead going into halftime. However, the Nuggets slowly chipped away at the lead and closed the gap to single digits by the end of the third quarter. They continued their push in the fourth quarter, stifling the Lakers’ offense and ultimately tying the game in the final minutes. Despite a strong performance from Davis and LeBron James, the Lakers fell short against the Nuggets, who secured the win with Murray’s game-winning shot.
Nikola Jokić also played a key role for the Nuggets, finishing with a triple-double of 27 points, 20 rebounds, and 10 assists. He joined a select group of players in post-merger history to achieve a 25-20-10 performance in the playoffs. Michael Porter Jr. contributed 22 points and nine rebounds, while Murray added 20 points and five assists, despite a 0-5 shooting performance from behind the arc. The Lakers, on the other hand, saw solid performances from Davis, James, and D’Angelo Russell, but ultimately fell short.
Looking ahead to Game 3, the Lakers may have Jarred Vanderbilt back on the court after being sidelined with a right midfoot sprain since February. Vanderbilt has been ramping up his workouts and is targeting a return for the upcoming game. The Lakers are also hopeful that Christian Wood, who has been recovering from knee surgery, will be available to play. While Vanderbilt’s return alone may not be enough to overcome the defending champions, it will provide valuable depth for the Lakers inside the paint.
The intense back-and-forth nature of Game 2 highlighted the competitiveness between the Nuggets and the Lakers. Despite being down 0-2 in the series, the Nuggets showed resilience and determination in their comeback win. Murray’s game-winning shot will go down in playoff history as a memorable moment, underscoring the team’s ability to rise to the occasion. As the series shifts to Los Angeles, both teams will be looking to make key adjustments and capitalize on their strengths to gain an advantage in the next game.
