The Denver Nuggets secured an exhilarating 131-126 victory over the Ruckers and climbed to the second seed within the Western Convention.
Jamal Murray and Nicola Jokic led the way in which to the Denver Nuggets.
Regardless of eradicating issues like Lebron James and Luka Doncic from the lineup, La Lakers’ facet seemed relentless with Austin Reeves and Dalton Knech main the road for them.
The duo scored 69 factors, however the Nuggets’ late sport glow, together with a clutch 3 from Murray, helped the Mile Excessive Metropolis staff win.
Nevertheless, supervisor Michael Malone was not impressed together with his staff’s efficiency and mentioned they wanted to method the sport urgently after a poor and poor first quarter.
Murray and Jokic solely took 32 photographs of their sport towards the Lakers, making it over 50%.
The star duo ought to shoot greater than he whereas Russell Westbrook had 16 photographs off the bench.
At a post-game press convention, Malone mentioned:
“I’ve to get these two guys in 20-25 video games. That is not impolite to anybody else, however we want these guys to hold the offensive load.”
Malone was additionally not happy with the Nuggets’ efforts in a victory over the Lakers, which gained the Don Sick James star duo and different key gamers.
“This isn’t a magnificence contest, it’s not a win, it’s a win.
“Clearly there are a number of issues we are able to do to get higher. A 20-point rebound 19 is an enormous concern, and we gave us one other 19 ups on turnovers, so it is the 39 factors that had been instantly allowed for offensive rebounds and turnovers,” Malone added.
Jokic and Murray have performed collectively for just below a decade of Nuggets, they usually have already solidified their legacy as the best of all time within the historical past of the franchise.
Jokic heads for his fourth MVP, however he additionally helps the Nuggets rating a high two end on the Western Convention.
Murray has averaged 22.6 ppg leveling up since its launch in 2025, capturing an environment friendly 49.6% from the sector and 42% from the 3-point vary.
The Canadian has at all times stepped as much as the Nuggets within the playoffs and the duo shall be arduous to interrupt down as Jokic is on his facet.
They misplaced towards the Minnesota Timberwolves within the second spherical final season, but when Murray continues to dwell out the playoff kind from the earlier yr and Jokic is dominant, the Nuggets may very well be a staff popping out of the West
