By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Nikola Jokic had 22 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists, Jamal Murray scored 28 points and made all the big plays down the stretch, while Jerami Grant had a playoff career-high with 26 points.
They were enough for Denver to get the 114-106 win against the Lakers and cut their lead to 2-1 in the Western Conference Finals.
The Nuggets had a 20-point lead (97-77) with just 10 minutes left in the game, but the Lakers came back and made it a three-point game (101-98) after a 21-4 run thanks to a 2-3 zone defense.
However, Denver weathered the storm with Murray making the score 106-99 with a three, giving to the Nuggets a crucial seven-point advantage in the closing minutes.
After winning their first two playoffs series of the season despite being 3-1 down, Denver reacted again and as coach Mike Malone said: “This is to me kind of similar to last series…this gives us that much more confidence.”
LeBron James registered his 26th career triple-double in the NBA playoffs with 30 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists, trailing only Lakers legend Magic Johnson who has 30.
Rajon Rondo with eight assists surpassed the late, great Kobe Bryant in the ninth position for the all-time assists leaders in the NBA playoffs with 1.041, still the Lakers couldn’t get the win and the 3-0 lead.
Photo credit: Gettyimages