The Denver Nuggets have earned a 119-108 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals, taking a commanding 3-0 series lead. The Lakers now face an uphill battle as no NBA team has ever rallied from a 3-0 playoff series deficit.
Nikola Jokic was far from his usual dominant self while mired in foul trouble, and Jamal Murray cooled off after a scorching first half. The Lakers’ home crowd was in a frenzy after erasing Denver’s early lead entirely in the fourth quarter of Game 3. However, the Nuggets remained calm and methodically took control with a poise worthy of champions. Despite early foul trouble for Nikola Jokic and a cooled-off Jamal Murray in the second half, they made a decisive 13-0 run in the fourth quarter to secure the win.
Murray finished with a game-high 37 points, while Jokic contributed 24 points and eight assists. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 17 points against his former team, and Michael Porter Jr. added 14 points and 10 rebounds. LeBron James led the Lakers with 23 points, 12 assists, and seven rebounds, while Anthony Davis had 28 points and 18 rebounds.
Denver is making its fifth straight playoff appearance, and the ultimate stage is now just one win away. No team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit in NBA history; Game 4 is scheduled to take place on Monday in Los Angeles.
“I can’t speak for the guys right now because I don’t know what’s going through all their minds, but I still (believe),” said LeBron James. “So it’s time to go right back home and start to refuel and start the treatment process and recovery process and get ready for Monday. My mindset is always locked in.”
Despite being the seventh seed in the playoffs, the Lakers had a prolonged and desperate surge after the trade deadline, but it has finally run out of steam against the powerhouse Nuggets. The Nuggets excelled down the stretch with Murray and Jokic repeatedly running a two-man pick-and-roll game suggested by “Coach Jokic,” according to coach Michael Malone.
This group is capable of doing great things, and they believe,” Malone said. “Belief is a very powerful thing.”
Overall, the Lakers’ passionate fans turned out in force for the 17-time champion franchise’s first conference finals games at home since 2010, and tried desperately to get back in the series. The Nuggets’ flight to the coast didn’t cool off Murray in the slightest: the Canadian guard poured in 17 points during the first quarter and had 26 midway through the second, which kept the Lakers in the game.
Despite facing a tough opponent, the Lakers are not giving up without a fight. Their players are determined to keep pushing and giving their all in order to secure the opportunity to reach the NBA Finals. They understand the challenge ahead of them, but they are not intimidated and are willing to throw punches and keep swinging until the final whistle.
In sports, and in life, resilience and determination are key qualities that can help us overcome challenges and achieve our goals. The Lakers players are embodying these qualities as they fight for another day in this series. They understand the importance of staying focused, staying disciplined and keeping their eye on the prize, and they are working tirelessly both on and off the court to make their dreams a reality.
Whether it’s in sports, business, or our personal lives, we can all learn from the Lakers players’ determination and willingness to keep fighting for what we believe in. By staying focused, pushing ourselves to our limits, and never giving up, we can achieve great things and overcome even the toughest of challenges.