Nuggets wipe out Lakers in fourth quarter to win Game 2 of Western Conference Finals

The Denver Nuggets used a dominant fourth quarter to return again towards the Los Angeles Lakers and take Sport 2, 108-103. 

Denver is now within the driver’s seat, having received the primary two video games of this sequence that decide one of many two groups vying for the Larry O’Brien Trophy within the NBA Finals. Two extra wins and so they’d attain their first NBA Finals in franchise historical past. 

The Nuggets went on a 20-5 run to begin the fourth quarter, getting their lead as much as 12 after they trailed for a lot of this contest. Los Angeles had their lead as much as 11 at one level, however failure to match the Nuggets’ runs had that double-digit lead erased. 

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Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets reacts after a basket through the first quarter towards the Los Angeles Lakers in recreation two of the Western Convention Finals at Ball Enviornment on Might 18, 2023 in Denver, Colorado.  (Matthew Stockman/Getty Photographs)

A big purpose why the Nuggets got here again was resulting from Jamal Murray discovering his taking pictures stroke after scoring simply 10 factors within the first half. He completed the sport with 37 factors on 11-for-24 taking pictures, together with 6-of-14 from three and 9-of-10 from the free throw line. He hit clutch free throws because the Lakers entered desperation mode with below a minute to play. 

Then again, LeBron James and Anthony Davis couldn’t get their bounce pictures to fall. Davis was simply 4-of-15 from the sphere, although his 9-for-11 line from the charity stripe led to 18 factors on the evening. He additionally had 14 rebounds for a double-double.

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James saved making an attempt to knock one down from past the arc, however he ended the sport 0-of-6 from three. He completed with 22 factors, 9 rebounds and 10 assists as he simply missed a triple-double. 

He additionally appeared to roll his ankle late within the fourth quarter when he stepped on Davis’s foot going for a rebound. 

Austin Reaves was in a position to financial institution house a three-pointer to make it a two-point recreation whereas James was on the ground on the opposite finish, however he would find yourself combating by ache to complete the sport. 

Murray ended up knocking in two free throws to get the Nuggets’ lead again to 4, and Davis missed a very good look from three which might’ve made it a one-point recreation with 40 seconds left to play. 

Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots the ball towards Nikola Jokic #15 and Aaron Gordon #50 of the Denver Nuggets through the second quarter in recreation two of the Western Convention Finals at Ball Enviornment on Might 18, 2023, in Denver, Colorado. (Matthew Stockman/Getty Photographs)

As a substitute, Murray hit a number of free throws to lock in one other win on house courtroom. 

Nikola Jokic, in fact, performed an enormous position in Denver’s victory, however he by no means scored a fourth quarter basket. He had one more triple-double, making it 4 in a row relationship again to Sport 5 of their sequence with the Phoenix Suns, with 23 factors, 17 rebounds and 12 assists, whereas totaling three steals as nicely. 

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Michael Porter Jr. additionally had 16 factors with seven boards and three assists, whereas Bruce Brown performed a implausible recreation off the bench with 12 factors, 5 rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block. 

For the Lakers, Reaves ended up with 22 factors, whereas Rui Hachimura was extremely environment friendly off the bench with 21 factors on 8-of-10 from the sphere. 

Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets drives towards LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers through the third quarter in recreation two of the Western Convention Finals at Ball Enviornment on Might 18, 2023 in Denver, Colorado.  (Matthew Stockman/Getty Photographs)

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The Lakers head house trying to find that first win of the sequence, as Sport 3 ideas off from Crypto.com Enviornment on Saturday at 8:30 p.m.