Denver took a 2-0 lead against the LA Lakers in the NBA’s Western Conference playoff series after the kind of drama only playoffs can produce.
The champions came back from a 20-point deficit at home to win 101-99 on Jamal Murray’s buzzer-beating basket. Seconds before that, LeBron James missed a shot after breaking free from an opponent’s defense, at 99:99.
But it was LeBron who was on the way to give the visitors the win, after going on a run of two three-pointers and scoring 12 consecutive points in the most tense part of the final quarter, when the turnaround was already on the horizon.
The Lakers led by 20 points midway through the third quarter, but stopped scoring around the 10-minute mark. And in the next almost 7 minutes, he recorded only 8 points, allowing Nikola Jokic, Murray and others to get back into the game.
In the end, things went to overtime after LeBron missed a shot, but the champions’ final charge ended with a long-range shot by Murray that went into the basket at the buzzer and blew up the hall.
Photo: AP/BTA
Jokic finished with a triple double and the astonishing statistics of 27 points, 20 rebounds and 10 assists. Murray added 20 points and Michael Porter scored 22, including an important three-pointer with 30 seconds left to make it 97-97.
Anthony Davis scored 32 points for the Lakers, but faded in the final quarter as LeBron took full charge. The King finished with 26 points, 12 assists and 8 rebounds, and D’Angelo Russell added 23.
There was drama in New York as well, where the Philadelphia 76’s led by 5 points just 30 seconds before the end of matchup number two of the series with the Knicks. But Jaylen Brunson’s 3-pointer cut into the deficit and Donte DiVincenzo scored two points with 13 seconds left to put the hosts ahead. Two foul shots by Oji Anunoby gave New York a 104-101 victory in the crazy ending, making it 2-0 in the East series.
Brunson finished with 24 points for the winners, and Tyrese Maxey (35) and Joel Embiid (34) had big games for Philadelphia.
Also in the East, Cleveland did not allow such dramas – 96:86 at home over Orlando, which also leads 2-0 in the series.
Donovan Mitchell’s 23 points were key to the Cavaliers’ victory.
