Davis hits 3 at buzzer to give Lakers 2-0 lead on Nuggets
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Anthony Davis has never been this deep in the playoffs, never had the chance to take such an important shot.
It’s nothing new for the Los Angeles Lakers, though.
So when Davis’ 3pointer swished through the net as time expired to give the Lakers a 105-103 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Sunday night and a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference finals, coach Frank Vogel thought of a Laker who had done it before.
“That’s a shot Kobe Bryant would hit,” Vogel said. “To me, AD coming off, just flying to the wing like that, catchand-shoot with the biggest game on the line of our season, nothing but net, it’s a Mamba shot.”
The Lakers were wearing their Black Mamba jerseys. They were co-designed by Bryant, their Hall of Fame guard who died Jan. 26 in a helicopter crash. Davis said wearing the jerseys that mean so much to the team made his winner feel even better.
“In the jersey we wore tonight, it just makes it even more special,” said Davis, who mouthed “Ko-be!” just after hitting the decisive shot from the left wing.
Davis finished with 31 points. He scored Los Angeles’ last 10 and had 22 in the second half to help the Lakers avoid becoming the latest victim of a Denver comeback.
“Special moment for a special player. Happy to be a part of it,” said LeBron James, who had 26 points and 11 rebounds.
The Nuggets had trailed by as many as 16, but Nikola Jokic scored 11 straight Denver points down the stretch, including a basket that put Denver ahead 103-102 with 20 seconds to play.
The Lakers’ Alex Caruso then missed a 3pointer, and Jamal Murray blocked Danny Green’s shot out of bounds with 2.1 seconds to play. Rajon Rondo inbounded under the basket and found Davis curling toward the sideline, and the All-Star forward swished it to put the Lakers another step closer to the NBA Finals.
Jokic said there was miscommunication on the final play, when it appeared Denver center Mason Plumlee let Davis drift free, believing there was going to be a switch.
Jokic raced out to him, but too late.
Jokic had 30 points and nine assists, and Murray scored 25 points. Game 3 is tonight. James carried the Lakers early, with 20 points in the first half. But they went more in the second half to Davis, who had 37 in an easy Game 1 victory.
“Great players make great shots and he did it, so he’s a really good player,” Jokic said.