With an extension shot from mid-distance after a step back, at the siren, Jamal Murray made Denver’s “Ball Arena” explode with joy before being buried by his teammates, all in the play-offs, the childhood dream of every young basketball player.
“I missed a lot today (Monday), my teammates encouraged me to keep shooting, to take my chances. They kept telling me to stay aggressive, I owe them this shot. The Lakers had started very strong, we achieved great teamwork,” commented the leader of the reigning champion, miraculously.
As in the first match, the Los Angeles Lakers had indeed attacked the game very hard to lead 59-44 at the break before having a 20-point lead in the heart of the 3rd quarter.
Anthony Davis (32 points, 11 rebounds) took care of the start of the game before the show of “King” LeBron James (26 points, 8 rebounds, 12 assists), on the block, on the interception, on the dunk, and on comfortable from afar to contain the return of the Nuggets.
The champion was able to count on the magic of Nikola Jokic, in triple-double (27 points, 20 rebounds, 10 assists), to start his comeback, before Murray (20 points, 0 of 5 from distance) took care of the end of the meeting.
The blow is hard for the Lakers, trailing 2-0 after having had the two away matches in hand. They will have to react on Thursday in their room.
Knicks madness in New York
When they appeared to have lost the game, the New York Knicks spectacularly upset the Philadelphia 76ers in the final seconds. Despite the public’s constant insults towards him, Joel Embiid (34 points, 10 rebounds) managed with Tyrese Maxey (35 points) to bring the 76ers to +5 with 30 seconds remaining.
Not very successful so far, Jalen Brunson (24 points on 8 of 29 shooting) scored a three-point shot after a very lucky rebound, before Maxey, under pressure, screwed up the ball on the next engagement. At the end of a messy fight for the ball, Donte DiVincenzo tried twice to return a long-distance shot and put the Knicks in the lead 14 seconds from time, before an assassin counterattack from Isaiah Hartenstein on Maxey , then two final free throws from OG Anunoby to lead 2-0 in the series.
“From actions to energy here and there, that’s how you win a match, it shows that the play-offs are above all a matter of the desire to fight,” commented the Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau.
“They played physical but everyone did it tonight,” explained Maxey, uncertain before the match because of illness. “It sucks. But we already have to put this defeat behind us, we have 48 hours to do it, before playing at home (Thursday).”
Cleveland strong at home
The Cleveland Cavaliers once again stifled the attack of the Orlando Magic for a second victory without trembling in two matches (96-86), enough to lead 2-0 before traveling to Florida on Thursday.
Donovan Mitchell (23 points) carried the “Cavs” collective with young Jarrett Allen (16 points, 20 rebounds).
Like its leader Paolo Banchero (21 points to 1 out of 4 from afar), the Magic remained too clumsy from afar (9 out of 35 at 25.7%) and not threatening enough inside to hope for better in Ohio.
Monday’s results, first round of the play-offs:
EAST CONFERENCE
Cleveland (N.4) beats Orlando (N.5) 96-86
Cleveland leads 2-0
New York (N.2) beats Philadelphia (N.7) 104-101
New York leads 2-0
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Denver (N.2) beats the Los Angeles Lakers (N.7) 101-99
Denver leads 2-0
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