Just one more win is all the Denver Nuggets need to make history and advance to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history. They defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 108-119 at Crypto.com Arena in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals. With this victory, Michael Malone's team has left its opponent on the brink of elimination, taking a 3-0 lead in the series.
GOT ONE ON THE ROAD ⚒ pic.twitter.com/30stiyhUdT
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) May 21, 2023
From the start of the game, the Los Angeles Lakers' strategy was clear: stop Nikola Jokić. Their efforts paid off during the first three quarters. Despite this, the Serbian star ended up registering a decent stat line (24 points, 8 assists and 6 rebounds). That decision, however, caused the Lakers to look over the Nuggets' supporting cast, including Jamal Murray.
Murray was the hero for the Nuggets and ended up being the best player of the game. Murray led his team for virtually the entire game to earn the win, taking the lead in place of Jokić. He was the top scorer with 37 points on 15-29 shooting, in addition to grabbing 7 rebounds and dishing out 6 assists.
That’s just Jamal Murray for ya 🏹
37 PTS
7 REB
6 AST
2 STL pic.twitter.com/jdZErHnwVG— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) May 21, 2023
Michael Porter Jr. also contributed a double-double (14 points and 10 rebounds, plus 6 assists), and the effectiveness of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (17 points) and Bruce Brown Jr. (15 points).
The Los Angeles Lakers are facing a task that is not impossible but is highly unlikely. Since the NBA was founded back in 1946, no franchise has ever come back from a 3-0 series deficit in the playoffs. It would be historic if they manage to meet the Eastern Conference Finals champion in the final series of the season.
Jamal Murray explodes for 30 points in the 1st half, finishing with 37 for the 2nd straight game!
The @nuggets now hold a 3-0 lead in the Western Conference Finals. pic.twitter.com/eLmpj3keXq
— NBA (@NBA) May 21, 2023
The Darvin Ham-led roster trailed on the scoreboard throughout the game. One positive takeaway for the Lakers from this game was the defense on Jokić. Anthony Davis recorded a double-double, with 28 points and 18 rebounds, outplaying the Nuggets' Serbian center. LeBron James also finished the game with a double-double (23 points and 12 assists, plus 7 rebounds), and Austin Reaves scored 23 points.
The two franchises will meet again in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals next Monday. It would be the last game of the series with a Nuggets win.
BRACKET UPDATE 🗣
Denver is 1 win away from the NBA Finals.
Visit the Playoff Hub for more ⤵
📲 https://t.co/MndHjxCujI pic.twitter.com/bBEj1mfWNS— NBA (@NBA) May 21, 2023
