Jamal Murray came through when it mattered most, sinking a clutch 3-pointer with 5.6 seconds left to help the Denver Nuggets escape with a 131-126 victory over the short-handed Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night. Russell Westbrook put the finishing touch on the win with a steal and dunk, sealing a game that was far closer than Denver might have expected.
Murray finished with 26 points, while Nikola Jokić led the way with 28. Despite the victory, Nuggets coach Michael Malone wasn’t pleased with how his team allowed an undermanned Lakers squad to stay in the fight, even crumpling his stat sheet in frustration during his postgame press conference.
The Lakers, missing LeBron James due to a groin strain and Luka Dončić with calf and ankle injuries, refused to back down. Austin Reaves put on a show with 37 points, while rookie Dalton Knecht added 32. Their second-half rally had Denver on the ropes, as Los Angeles took a 126-123 lead with just 52 seconds remaining.
Jokić responded with a crucial three-point play to tie the game, and after Reaves missed a contested jumper, Murray drained the go-ahead three thanks to a well-placed screen from Jokić that cleared two defenders. That shot proved to be the dagger, and Westbrook’s steal and dunk ensured there would be no last-second comeback.
Bronny James, playing through an illness, logged 16 minutes and scored five points in his latest NBA appearance.
Denver’s inability to put away a depleted Lakers team could be a cause for concern as they fight for playoff positioning. The Nuggets had a significant advantage at the free-throw line, making 21 of 25 attempts before halftime, while the Lakers only managed seven trips to the line in the first half.
The Lakers looked like they were headed for a blowout loss but came alive in the third quarter, using a 19-9 run to cut a 13-point deficit to just three heading into the final stretch. That momentum nearly carried them to an improbable win before Denver’s late-game heroics.
UP Next
The Lakers will return home to face the Phoenix Suns on Sunday, while the Nuggets have little time to rest as they host the Washington Wizards on Saturday night in their fifth game in seven days.
Leave a Comment