Written by Jovan Buha, Tony Jones, and Nick Kosmider
The Denver Nuggets edged out the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals on Saturday, winning 119-108 to take a 3-0 lead in the series. Here’s what you need to know:
- Nuggets guard Jamal Murray scored 37 points (30 in the first half) with seven rebounds, six assists, two steals, and shot 5-of-11 from 3-point range.
- Lakers All-Star Anthony Davis dropped 28 points, 18 rebounds and two blocks.
- No team has ever overcome a 3-0 deficit in postseason NBA history.
the athleteInstant Analysis:
How the Nuggets sparked a late running
When Nikola Jokic received his fourth foul of the game with 7:24 left in the third quarter, Nuggets coach Michael Malone decided to bench his twice-best position of the game for the remainder of the period. Denver was up 68-63 at the time and facing the most pivotal stretch of the series.
Thanks to Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s 11-point quarter and solid defense, Denver escaped and stared off the bench. Still leading by two points at the start of the final period, Jokić finally found his groove down the stretch to move the Nuggets to the threshold of their first trip to the NBA Finals. – Kosmider
Denver has solved the Los Angeles issue
No matter what the Lakers threw at them, the Nuggets had the answer. Double teams on Murray and Joki. Switch two men game. Greater Defenders. The fastest defenders. The strongest defenders. Denver is simply the better team – and that’s crystal clear after three games.
The margins were relatively slim, and Los Angeles probably should have won Game 2 to make this series 2-1. However, Denver has proven just how great it is with these first three games. They will win this series, in either four or five games, and should be favorites in the NBA Finals against Miami or Boston. – Poha
The Lakers need to change their starting lineup
Los Angeles’ starting lineup of Davis, LeBron James, Jared Vanderbilt, Austin Reeves and D’Angelo Russell doesn’t work. He helped them get here with a 7-5 record in the playoffs (with one of those losses coming in Game 2).
But the Lakers were short of seven in the 12 minutes the group played on Saturday — a deficit compounded by Los Angeles trailing early in both halves. Lakers Under -53 in the 79th minute for Russell. They are down 15 in the 41st minute for Vanderbilt. At some point, this matters.
Los Angeles is already past that point. Both players should move to the bench and just play sparingly, if at all. Vanderbilt at least offers strong defense on the ball against Murray. Russell has yet to contribute to either party in a meaningful way in the series.
Rui Hachimura (Vanderbilt) and Dennis Schroeder (Russell) should start in their place.
Denver players step up
Highlight of the game
Key stats
Murray had 53 points from the fourth quarter of Game 2 to the end of the first half of Game 3 which is the most postseason points over three quarters since 1998.
Joki finished with 24 points, eight assists and six rebounds, and shot 9-for-19 from the field. LeBron James added 23 points, made 12 assists and seven rebounds. James hit his first 3-pointer from the Conference Finals, moving 3 of 9 from behind the arc.
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(Photo: Harry How/Getty Images)
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