Lakers lose on buzzer-beater, trail Denver two games to none

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) goes up for a short against Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) during the second half in Game 2 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Monday, April 22, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

LOS ANGELES – The Lakers were unable to hold a double-digit lead for the second consecutive game Monday night, losing to the Denver Nuggets 101-99, with Jamal Murray making the tie-breaking 16-foot fadeaway shot over the outstretched arms of Laker center Anthony Davis as time expired.

The basket completed a comeback from a 20-point third-quarter deficit and put Denver ahead for the first time early in the first quarter.

LeBron James missed an open 25-foot 3-point shot with 16.3 seconds remaining on the previous possession.

The Nuggets lead the best-of-seven series two games to none. Game 3 will be played Thursday at Crypto.com Arena.

Teams that win the first two games of a best-of-seven series have gone on to win the series 314 of 341 times, 92.1% of the time. All 151 teams that have won the first three games of a best-of-seven series have gone on to win the series.

Murray scored each of Denver’s final six points. The 6-foot-4-inch guard made two free throws with 57.6 seconds remaining, tying the score, 97-97.

James put the Lakers back ahead with a driving layup with 47.7 seconds left. Murray made a 20-foot step back shot with 30 seconds remaining, tying the score, 99-99, before a capacity crowd announced at 19,711 at Ball Arena.

The Lakers led 28-24 at the end of the first quarter and 59-44 at halftime. The Lakers outscored the Nuggets 9-4 to open the second half to take a 68-48 lead as Davis made back-to-back 3-point plays and Austin Reaves made a 3-point basket.

Denver scored 10 unanswered points cutting the deficit to 74-65 with 2:27 left in the third quarter with former Laker Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Nikola Jokic both scored four points.

The Lakers led 79-69 entering the fourth quarter and increased their lead to 71-62 on Taurean Price’s 3-point basket with 10:50 remaining. The Nuggets responded with a 10-1 run to pull with two, 83-81, 6:45 to play with Murray scoring six points.

James made back-to-back 3-point baskets building the lead to eight, 89-81, with 5:55 remaining.

Denver tied the score for the first time since the first quarter, 95-95, when Michael Porter Jr. completed an 8-2 run with a 3-point basket with 1:15 left.

Jokic led five Nuggets in double figures with 27 points, pulled down a game-high 20 rebounds and had a team-high 10 assists. Porter added 22, including six 3-point baskets, and Murray 20, including 14 in the fourth quarter.

Davis scored a game-high 32, but was scoreless in the fourth quarter, missing his only shot in 9:55 of play. Davis led the Lakers with 11 rebounds, with one in the fourth quarter.

James added 26 and had a team-high 12 assists. D’Angelo Russell was the other Laker in the double figures with 23 points, making a game-high seven 3-point baskets.

The loss was the 10th straight by the Lakers to Denver, dating back to last season, including a 114-103 loss in Game 1 Saturday at Denver when they had a 12-point second-quarter lead. (CNS)