From down 20 to up 2-0. On Monday night, the Denver Nuggets stole Game 2 from the Los Angeles Lakers, 101-99, after mounting a stunning comeback. The defending champions seized control of the series and won their 10th game in a row against the Lakers.
Jamal Murray struggled most of the night for Denver, but the star guard came through down the stretch. Murray scored 14 points in the fourth quarter and finished with 20 overall on 9-of-24 shooting. Denver led for less than one minute during the game — but Murray’s buzzer-beater will do just fine for the champs.
“I just lost my balance and fell. I think AD was in my way or somebody was in my way, and I just heard everybody scream — and that’s how I knew it went in,” said Murray. “I told my teammates when I was struggling, ‘I’m going to look for y’all,’ and every single one of them told me to keep shooting. They told me to stay aggressive and keep looking for it, keep hunting, and when I had the ball with 2 seconds left, I knew once I had made a couple the next one should go down, as well.”
Nikola Jokic had another great game — posting a triple-double with 27 points, 20 boards and 10 assists — but Murray’s moment will live on forever.
“That’s Jamal Murray right there,” coach Mike Malone said. “He can struggle, he can struggle, he can struggle. He sees one go in and he’s never shying away from the moment, the spotlight. And that was just an incredible play.”
