With a basket at the buzzer by Jamal Murray, the Denver Nuggets completed a 20-point comeback to beat the Los Angeles Lakers 101-99 and take a 2-0 lead in this first-round tie of the NBA playoffs.
In the other two games on Monday, the New York Knicks defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 104-101 in another exciting final and advanced 2-0 in the tie, just as the Cleveland Cavaliers did against the Orlando Magic.
In Denver, the Nuggets dealt a painful second defeat to LeBron James’ Lakers, who dominated practically the entire game, leading 48-68 at the beginning of the third quarter.
LeBron, with 26 points and 12 assists, and Anthony Davis, with 32 points and 11 rebounds, led a great performance by the Lakers that seemed to be enough to break the streak of nine consecutive losses they had accumulated against the current champions.
But under the guidance of a huge Nikola Jokic, who finished with 27 points, 20 points and 10 assists, the Nuggets were closing the gap, pushed by the Ball Arena crowd.
Improving their defense, the locals forced a tight finish that led to a spectacular exchange of baskets between LeBron and Murray, who until then was having an erratic night shooting.
But the Canadian point guard, who finished with 20 points (9-24 shooting), showed again that he grows in the hottest moments.
LeBron, who scored 12 points in the last six minutes with two three-pointers in a row, missed an uncontested outside shot with 16 seconds remaining, tied at 99.
On the last possession, Murray played a spectacular mid-range shot, leaning back in front of Davis who entered just before the final horn.
«When I was suffering, my teammates told me to keep shooting. “I knew that once he made a couple of shots, the next one was going to go in too,” said Murray, who only made 3 of his 16 shots in the first three quarters.
“It’s a heartbreaking game, you don’t want to lose this way,” LeBron acknowledged. “Leads of 20 points are not safe in this league, especially against the reigning champions.”
“But I like our options, now we have to protect our house,” said the forward, who continues to strengthen his options to fight for the ring at 39 years old.
The Lakers, who were already swept 4-0 by the Nuggets in the last Western Finals, will host the next two games on Thursday and Saturday.
End of madness in NY
In New York, the Knicks and the Sixers offered a clash of maximum intensity that was resolved in favor of the locals with a heart-stopping comeback in the last half minute.
After several fabulous baskets by young Tyrese Maxey, the Sixers led by five points (96-101) until, with only 27 seconds on the clock, Jalen Brunson closed the gap with a triple.
After serving from under his rim, Maxey lost the ball on the floor amid the fierce defense of Brunson and Josh Hart, in an action that the Sixers claimed as a foul.
The play ended with a triple by Donte DiVincenzo that put the Knicks ahead with 13 seconds left under the ecstasy of the Madison Square Garden stands.
Brunson was the Knicks’ top scorer with 24 points and Maxey of the Sixers with 35 points, 9 rebounds and 10 assists.
Cameroonian Joel Embiid, who added 34 points and 11 rebounds, protested against the referee’s action for not calling a foul in Maxey’s loss of the ball.
“It is unacceptable to lose a game like this, especially in the playoffs,” claimed the current league MVP. «We should be 2-0. “We are good and we are going to win this series.”
Sixers coach Nick Nurse said officials ignored several timeout calls during the key play.
For their part, the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Orlando Magic 96-86 and advanced 2-0 in this Eastern series.
Donovan Mitchell once again led Cleveland’s attack with 23 points and Paolo Banchero finished with another 21 for Orlando.
The Magic left Cleveland without having taken a lead in either of the first two games.
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