With the game tied and the Lakers needing one final stop to force overtime, a Jamal Murray step-back jumper over the outstretched arm of Anthony Davis went through the net and the Lakers fell at the buzzer 101-99 in a heartbreaker of a game. The loss is the Lakers 10th consecutive against this team and drops them to 0-2 in the series.
Up by as many 20 points in the 3rd quarter, there is a version of this game in which it never comes down to Murray's shot at the buzzer and the Lakers head back to Los Angeles with the split they sought, but it was not meant to be.
Despite controlling the game for the better part of three quarters, it was Denver's shot making and a critical defensive adjustment they made halfway through the 3rd quarter that sparked their run and allowed them to climb back into it.
After playing a strong first half in which they successfully held the Nuggets at bay and led by 15 at intermission, the Lakers came out of halftime not only with a determination to grow their lead, but a tactical problem that the Nuggets simply were not able immediately get their arms around. The Lakers pummeled Denver with LeBron and Anthony Davis pick-and-rolls, getting the Lakers two three-point plays from AD and an Austin Reaves triple that put the Lakers up 68-48 with 10 minutes left in the 3rd.
From that point on, however, Denver outscored the Lakers 53-31 by adjusting on defense to help successfully stall out the Lakers offense and then leverage the Lakers missed shots to get momentum going offensively themselves and find their own rhythm. By the end of the 3rd quarter the Nuggets had cut the Lakers largest lead in half, and then in the 4th quarter they continued to push.
The Lakers, to their credit, found ways to scrape together enough offense of their own to continue to fight back and force the Nuggets into making more plays if they were to execute their comeback in full. But, like the championship team they are, Denver rose to the challenge and made every play they needed to in order to claim in the win.
The very nature of a game like this will overshadow all the work the Lakers did to control the game to the point they did, but the team did get some excellent performances from several players.
Anthony Davis was brilliant for the 2nd straight game, scoring 32 points to go along with 11 rebounds, two assists, a block and a steal. At one point AD connected on 14 consecutive shots, finishing the game 14 of 19 overall while doing an excellent job on Nikola Jokic defensively -- particularly in the 1st half. Davis flashed great touch with his jumper and then was great scoring out of post and when diving to the rim out of the pick-and-roll.
Serving as a balance to AD's play inside was D'Angelo Russell who had an excellent bounce-back game and really came out of the gate ready take and make his jumper. Russell opened the game making his first five triples and finished the night seven of 11 from deep en route to 23 points to go along with six assists and three rebounds. Russell's shooting was the difference maker for the Lakers early, stabilizing their offense and allowing them to claim the lead and ultimately hold onto it for as long as they did.
Also critical was LeBron, who scored 26 points, dished out 12 assists, and grabbed eight rebounds. LeBron also exerted a great amount of energy defensively, not just in locking horns with Gordon on the glass and around the paint, but when he got switched onto Jokic by fronting the post and really working to try to disrupt Denver's big man. Down the stretch, LeBron fought off fatigue to hit several critical baskets, including two of his three made three-pointers and a step-through jumper for a three-point play.
Alas, it was not enough. Denver's shot making proved too good, and their defensive adjustment of moving Kentavious Caldwell-Pope onto LeBron and Gordon onto AD changed the attack points of the Lakers offense and disrupted them just enough to allow Denver to gain a foothold, which they ultimately spun into the type of run that got the crowd into the game and gave them that extra shot in the arm that led to them getting this victory.
They also got great production from their starting lineup, with Jokic's 27 points, 20 rebounds, and 10 assists leading the way and a really strong shooting night from Michael Porter Jr. (22 points, six made threes) serving as a great complement to Jokic's interior play.
The Lakers will now head back to Los Angeles with a clear understanding of how they can attack the Nuggets, while also needing some answers of their own for some of the adjustments Denver threw at them. They will get their chance to bounce back and try to get their first win in the series when these teams play Game 3 on Thursday.