Nuggets, Murray recover after blowing huge lead
Jamal Murray had 28 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds and made two late threepointers to halt a Lakers charge, helping the Nuggets to a 114-106 victory Tuesday night in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, to cut the Lakers’ Western Conference finals lead to 2-1.
The Nuggets lost almost all of a 20-point lead in the fourth quarter but held on to win, avoiding a 3-0 hole. They set a record by erasing two 3-1 deficits this postseason, but no NBA team has ever come back from 3-0.
Jerami Grant added a playoff career-high 26 points and Nikola Jokic had 22 points and 10 rebounds for the Nuggets, who will try to even the series in Game 4 on Thursday.
LeBron James had 30 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds and Anthony Davis added 27 points for the Lakers, who remain two wins from their first NBA Finals appearance in a decade.
† Appearing as a guest in a series of CNN panel discussions, NBA commissioner Adam Silver said his “best guess” is that next season will not start until at least January. The league had most recently been targeting a late December start.
Braves clinch record 20th division title
Bryse Wilson pitched five scoreless innings, Marcell Ozuna drove in five runs with four hits — including two homers — and the Braves clinched their third consecutive National League East title by beating the Marlins 11-1 on Tuesday night in Miami. The Braves hit five homers in all, including shots by Dansby Swanson and Freddie Freeman off Nick Vincent in a five-run seventh inning.
Wilson (1-0) allowed three hits and one walk, striking out a career-high seven. It was an unexpected showing by the 22-yearold right-hander, who had a 7.04 ERA in four relief outings and had been at the team’s alternate training site until Monday.
The Braves now have a record 20th division titles, one more than the Yankees.
† Eric Sogard doubled home the goahead run in the seventh as the Brewers rallied for a 3-2 win over the surging Reds that bolstered their sagging playoff hopes.
† The Phillies tumbled out of the eighth and final NL playoff spot when they were swept by the Nationals 5-1 and 8-7 in a doubleheader. Yadiel Hernandez hit a game-ending two-run homer off Brandon Workman in the eighth inning of the nightcap.
Gruden, Payton latest fined over masks
A person with knowledge of the punishments said Raiders coach Jon Gruden and Saints coach Sean Payton were each fined $100,000 for not wearing masks on the sideline Monday night. The teams also were fined $250,000 each, according to the source.