Davis sinks decisive shot in Lakers’ win
3-pointer gives L.A. 2-0 series lead vs. Nuggets
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Anthony Davis never has 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’ 3-pointer swished through the net as time expired Sunday to give the Lakers a 105-103 victory over the Denver Nuggets 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, catch-and-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, which were co-designed by Bryant, their Hall of Fame guard who died Jan. 26 in a helicopter crash.
“In the jersey we wore tonight, it just makes it even more special,” Davis said of his shot.
Davis finished with 31 points, including the Lakers’ last 10 points and 22 in the second half.
“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 trailed by 16, but Nikola Jokic scored 11 straight down the stretch, including a basket that gave Denver a 103-102 lead with 20 seconds to play.
Alex Caruso then missed a 3-pointer 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 halfway to the NBA Finals.
Jokic said there was miscommunication on the final play, when it appeared center Mason Plumlee let Davis drift free believing there was going to be a switch. Jokic raced out to him, but too late.
“Great players make great shots and he did it, so he’s a really good player,” Jokic said.
Jokic had 30 points and nine assists and Murray scored 25.
James carried the Lakers early, with 20 points in the first half. But in the second half, they went more to Davis.
Once again, it appeared the Nuggets would win with a huge rally; Denver trailed the Clippers 3-1 in its previous series, and rallied to win each of the last three games.
Murray scored for an
87-86 lead with 7:26 to play. But Green and Rondo hit 3-pointers and, after a basket by PJ Dozier, Kentavious Caldwell-pope made another 3 to make it 95-89.
It was 100-92 after another 3 by Davis before Jokic answered with nine straight, tipping in a miss by Murray for a 101-100 edge with 31 seconds left. Davis put the Lakers back on top with a basket in the lane, but Jokic countered, putting the Nuggets back on top with 20 seconds remaining.