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Jamal Murray celebrates the game winner against the Los Angeles Lakers.
CNN
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Jamal Murray hits an incredible 15-foot buzzer-beater over the outstretched arm of the 6-foot-10 Anthony Davis, capping a sensational 20-point comeback and giving the Denver Nuggets a 101-1 lead over the Los Angeles Lakers. He won the second game with a score of 99.
The unexpected win extends the defending champions' 2-0 lead in the first round series as the team currently prepares to head to LA for their next two games at the Lakers' Crypto.com Arena.
Murray, who has developed a reputation over the years for stepping up his game during the playoffs, dropped to the Nuggets' bench and was mobbed by his teammates as Ball Arena erupted.
Notably, Murray had a terrible start to the game, making just 3 of his first 16 shots, then 6 of 8, totaling 20 in the fourth quarter, including the game-winner. He scored 14 of the points.
“I want to give all the credit to my teammates and coaches,” Murray told TNT Sports. “When I was struggling, I told my teammates, 'I'm going to go find you guys.' They all told me, 'Keep shooting.' “Keep shooting. Be aggressive, keep shooting.”
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Murray scored 14 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter.
“Even when I was throwing up that crappy floater, they told me to stay aggressive, keep looking for it, keep hunting it. I had the ball with seconds left, but once I took the shot. Once I hit the ball, I knew the next ball would fall the same way.
“You're missing four or five shots in a row, you're missing six or seven shots in a row, and everyone's telling you to keep shooting, but you're missing some bad shots. Then you're missing 10, 11, 12 in a row. If you miss it multiple times in a row, you're like, “Hey, should I change something?” Should I look at something else?
“Like I said, if it wasn't for my teammates, I might not have even been able to hit that shot.”
While Murray struggled, the Nuggets stayed in the game thanks to another absurd night from Nikola Jokic, who had 27 points, 20 rebounds, 10 assists and two steals.
Michael Porter Jr. also played a big role for the Nuggets, scoring 22 points and making 6 of 10 3-point shots.
However, the Lakers were unhappy with the officiating during the game, particularly on one play in the third quarter where a foul call against Porter Jr. on D'Angelo Russell was overturned after the Nuggets took advantage of a coach's challenge.
“That was a foul that we all saw on national television,'' Russell said. Posted in Xformerly known as Twitter, after the game.
“Honestly, I don't understand what's going on in the Replay Center,” Lakers superstar LeBron James told reporters.
Ron Chenoy/USA TODAY Sports/Reuters
LeBron James left the press conference.
“D-Roe was obviously hit in the face with a drive. If they're going to abolish it, what's the replay center for? [like that]?It doesn't make sense to me,'' he added before leaving the press conference.
It's no exaggeration to say that the outlook is increasingly bleak for the Lakers, who have lost 10 straight against the Nuggets. Los Angeles will need a major turnaround in fortunes to advance to the next round.
Embiid and 76ers fall against Knicks, Cavs beat Magic
The Philadelphia 76ers came close to winning against the New York Knicks on Monday in one of the most remarkable playoff finals Madison Square Garden has ever witnessed, but somehow they lost. They gave up eight points in the final 27.1 seconds and lost 104-101.
Leading 101-96 with 47 seconds left, the 76ers looked on course to tie the series until the worst loss in playoff history.
The Knicks fell behind after Sixers guard Kyle Lowry missed the second of two free throws and saw Jalen Brunson's 3-pointer accidentally bounce right in front of the rim.
The 76ers then had Tyrese Maxey stripped by New York forward Josh Hart and turned the ball over from an inbounds play, and Donte DiVincenzo eventually hit another 3-pointer to put the Knicks at 102-1. He led with 101.
Maxey then had his layup blocked, leaving the 76ers with no choice but to foul OG Anunoby, who collected the rebound.
Anunoby made two free throws to give the Knicks a 104-101 lead, and Embiid blocked a 3-pointer on his final shot of the game to give the Knicks a decisive 2-0 lead, giving the Knicks a decisive lead at 2-0. The NBA MVP's lack of success has been extended. Playoff record.
Elsewhere in the Eastern Conference, the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Orlando Magic 96-86 to lead the series 2-0.
Donovan Mitchell led the Cavs with a game-high 23 points, and big man Jarrett Allen had 16 points, 20 rebounds, two steals, and three blocks.
