The 20-point Denver Nuggets lead was reduced to four with more than two minutes left in the game when Nicola Jokic handed the ball to Jamal Murray.
Murray supported Alex Caruso from the step-point line and spilled only one step-back. On the next possession, Murray beat Paul Millsap with a beautiful pass on two defenders. And then Murray sealed Tuesday’s Game 3 of the Western Conference’s final with a 29-foot rainbow shot to Denver with an 11-foot rainbow shot for a 114-106 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers at Lake Buena Vista in Florida.
“Now I know every day what I’m getting from Jamal,” said Denver coach Michael Mellon. “Last year, we knew what we were getting from Nicola, but what kind of game would Jamal take. That is no longer the case.
“We have two superstars in Nicola and Jamal.”
The Lakers have an argument with Anthony Davis and LeBron James among the top five players in the NBA, who scored 57 points on Tuesday. But it was Murray who raised his level at Crunch Time in Game 3, leading 8-0 in the final 2:17 to hand the Lakers their first loss of the conference final.
LA is leading the series 2-1.
Murray almost matched James, who triple-doubled with 30 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds. The Nuggets defender scored 28 points, 12 assists and 8 rebounds to help Denver rebound after losing Game 2 on a crushing buzzer-beat 3 by Davis.
“We had Game 2,” Murray said of Sunday’s 105-103 loss. “We played great in Game 2. We only had a few crashes that really hurt us.
“We think we should go 2-1 right now, to be honest. But we’ll go to Game 4.”
The Nuggets lost 3-1 to Uta Jazz and LA Clippers in the first and second rounds of the playoffs, respectively. But this is the first time the Nuggets have started the series down 0-2 in the last two post seasons.
Jeremy Grant (26 points) and Monte Morris (14 points) helped the Nuggets to a 97-77 lead with 10:36 remaining on Tuesday.
“I had no doubt we would show up tonight,” Malone said. “The reason I have no doubt is that we have won six straight elimination games. Everyone always packs our bags and leaves, but we’re not ready to go. For some reason, we love this bubble.”
Murray, however, prefers to shoot at times crushed in bubbles. After Laker scored 22-6 to reduce the deficit to four, Murray responded with a 26-foot 3, Millssep pass and then a 29-foot dagger.
According to ESPN statistics and data research, the Guard now has eight clutch time-pointers in these posts, which is only the second in a postseason in 20 years behind Stephen Curry’s nine (201).
“It’s made for big shots,” said Joaquim, who has 22 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists in Game 3. “I really, really believe he’s a superstar.”
The Lakers may have the best one-two punch in the league. But Malone says he thinks he has superstar commbo, as well as watching the series in Game 4.
“This gives us more confidence going into this series,” Malone said. “Let them know we’re here, we’re in this for a long distance.”
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