NBA Playoffs 2023 - Lakers VS Nuggets
Box score
Team | Field Goals | 3-Point FGs | Free Throws | Personal Fouls | Total Rebounds | Offensive Rebounds | Turn overs | Points Off Turnovers | Fast Break Points | Points in the Paints |
DEN | 39/89 43.8% | 14/38 36.8% | 16/18 88.9% | 18 | 49 | 11 | 15 | 14 | 22 | 46 |
LAL | 36/82 43.9% | 8/30 26.7% | 23/26 88.5% | 19 | 40 | 4 | 12 | 21 | 21 | 48 |
#27 Jamal Murray 37 Pts, 5 Ast, 10 Reb
#15 Nikola Jokic 23 Pts, 12 Ast, 17 Reb
Game Highlights
Game Report NBA Highlights
Denver seizes a 2-0 series lead against the Los Angeles Lakers as Jamal Murray ignites a dominant fourth-quarter run, resulting in an impressive victory.
In Denver, yet another memorable game unfolded between the Nuggets and the Los Angeles Lakers, adding another classic to their rivalry. The Lakers held the upper hand for the majority of the game until a remarkable performance by Jamal Murray propelled the Nuggets to establish a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter of Game 2 in the Western Conference finals. However, the Lakers mounted a furious comeback in the final period, giving them a chance to even the series. Unfortunately, a couple of missed 3-pointers by Anthony Davis left them agonizingly short as the Nuggets clinched a 108-103 victory.
Remaining undefeated at home throughout the playoffs, the Nuggets now find themselves only two wins away from securing a spot in the NBA Finals. Should the Lakers fail to win the series, they will undoubtedly reflect on this game and ponder the possibilities had their star players performed to their full potential. LeBron James and Davis struggled from the field, collectively shooting just 13-of-34, and a couple of significant misses by James could have altered the outcome of the game. The Lakers had two prime opportunities to steal a road victory in this series, but they narrowly fell short on both occasions.
Let's delve into the key takeaways from Game 2:
In a mere quarter of play
Had Jamal Murray struggled to make only 5 out of 17 shots in the first three quarters of Game 1, Denver would have likely faced a 20-point deficit. The initial game of this series showcased an offensive showcase, with players hitting their shots while the defenses seemed nonexistent. However, Game 2 was a much sloppier affair. Both teams struggled with their three-point shooting, and a total of 27 turnovers occurred. The slow starts from their star players went unpunished since the opposing team also struggled to find their rhythm. The momentum of the game shifted in the fourth quarter, with Jamal Murray stepping up while the Lakers faltered.
In the final 12 minutes, Murray delivered an astonishing 23 of his game-high 37 points. He connected on six of his seven field goal attempts, including four of his five three-pointers. Notably, Murray did not take a break during the second half, playing all 24 minutes, and Denver relied heavily on his contributions. Considering the Lakers' defeat came during the eight minutes that LeBron James was off the court, Murray's stamina and endurance likely played a significant role in determining the outcome.
Game 1 can be considered an exception in the playoffs, as most late-stage playoff games resemble Game 2 in terms of competitiveness. These games often lack fluidity and display unimpressive statistics in the box scores. The outcomes often depend on pivotal moments involving the star players. Despite sharing the court with two MVPs and the world's best defensive player, Jamal Murray emerged as the standout player in the fourth quarter. His exceptional performance was precisely what Denver required to secure a 2-0 lead in the series.
The Lakers' star players didn't shine brightly enough.
Anthony Davis has become alarmingly predictable. Throughout the postseason, he has consistently followed up great performances with underwhelming ones. In Game 1, the Lakers squandered an impressive 40-point outing from Davis. Despite his struggles with a 4-of-15 shooting night in Game 2, the Lakers came close to winning. If those two performances had been swapped, the series would likely be tied. However, labeling this as merely bad timing would be unfair because Davis has displayed this pattern throughout the entire postseason. In games with odd numbers, he appears unstoppable, but in games with even numbers, he struggles to find his scoring touch.
While LeBron James had a better showing in terms of the box score, with 22 points on 9-of-19 shooting, it falls slightly below his usual standards. However, this type of performance would have been sufficient for the Lakers to secure a victory if other players had stepped up around him. Yet, the Lakers lost the game by five points. It's worth noting the six points James missed due to careless mistakes at the rim.
The evidence is now undeniable: LeBron James, at the age of 38 and nursing an injury, is showing signs of his limitations. Shots that were once easy dunks during his prime now pose challenges for him at the rim. Furthermore, he has been unable to compensate by finding success from behind the arc. Remarkably, James has missed 19 consecutive three-point attempts in the fourth quarter alone. Throughout the series, his struggles continue as he remains 0-of-10 from deep. While James has remained crucial on the defensive end, even taking on the challenging assignment of guarding Jokic in Game 2, the Lakers are unable to generate enough scoring to overcome the Nuggets with this version of James. They desperately need the assertive and aggressive player from Game 1, who was a threat on both ends of the court, if they want to reverse their fortunes in the series.
The Lakers' roster is depleting.
Let's take a look at the remaining Lakers role players, excluding Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura.
In this series, the Lakers have struggled when D'Angelo Russell has been on the court, with a negative point differential of minus-41 in 59 minutes. Conversely, when Russell has been off the court, the Lakers have fared better, boasting a positive point differential of plus-30 in 37 minutes.
Dennis Schroder had a challenging shooting night in Game 2, making only 2 of his 9 attempts. Additionally, in Game 1, he was targeted defensively when the Lakers employed smaller lineups.
Darvin Ham's lack of trust in Jarred Vanderbilt's ability to prevent offensive stagnation is apparent, given that Vanderbilt has only been on the court for a total of 27 minutes in the two games against Denver.
Lonnie Walker IV, who is seemingly the eighth man in this series, has encountered difficulties both offensively and defensively, shooting 3-of-9 from the field.
It is possible to overcome the struggles of a role player or two in a series. For example, Hachimura appeared to lack a defined role on the court against Golden State but has found success in the matchup against Denver. However, currently, the Lakers appear to have only four effective players against Denver: James, Davis, Reaves, and Hachimura. This situation is concerning because a team requires five players on the court at all times. If the Lakers fail to ignite the performance of additional role players, their chances of success in this series are slim.
Win Your Bet With NBA Consensus Pick and NBA Expert Picks on FC178
FC178 provides you the most convenience way to get NBA Highlights and place bet, Follow our NBA Picks
