Murray’s dagger is a shot at Lakers’ heart   

The Los Angeles Lakers are in trouble. They know it. And everybody else knows it. The Lakers are halfway to going on summer vacation. By blowing a 20-point lead against the Denver Nuggets, the Lakers may have blown their chances to win their first-round series against the defending NBA champions. 

Game 2 was a game the Lakers needed to win. They should have won but got no dice. As a result, Denver’s 101-99 win kept their feet on the Lakers’ neck. 

Jamal Murray, probably one of the most underrated players in the entire NBA, dropped one of the most iconic finishes in postseason history when dropped back nailed a jumper over the outstretched hand of Anthony Davis as the buzzer sounded at the end of the fourth quarter to give the Nuggets a commanding 2-0 series lead against Los Angeles. 

Can't stop watching https://t.co/IWU0TxQa2Q pic.twitter.com/StNCfxHTYj

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) April 23, 2024

When you think of game-winning shots in postseason history, the Lakers have had their share of breaking other team’s hearts. How about that 3-point dagger that Robert Horry hit for the Lakers against the Sacramento Kings? 

Remember that? If that wasn’t enough, you cannot forget about that Derek Fisher Hail Mary game-winning basket against Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs, 

The Lakers have often been on the winning side of game-winning shots. This time, the Nuggets hit the big one when it counted. How will the Lakers rebound from this devastating defeat? It was more than a tough loss for the purple and gold. 

To come back from this defeat will take a Herculean effort by the Lakers collectively as a team. The loss by the Lakers is compounded by the fact that Los Angeles has lost 10 straight games to the Nuggets, including being swept in the West Conference Finals last year. 

The epic collapse by the Lakers in Game 2 superseded the double-digit lead Los Angeles surrendered to Denver in a 114-103 defeat in Game 1. The Lakers outscored the Nuggets 31-20 in the second quarter to take control of the game. 

By the time the third quarter rolled around, the Lakers increased their lead. The problem the Lakers ran into is that an NBA game is played in 48 minutes, not 36 (outside of overtime). Denver outscored Los Angeles 32-20 to finish the game with a flurry. 

Outside of Murray’s incredible shot-winning basket, there were several factors that contributed to Denver getting a two-game jump over the Lakers. 

For one, the Lakers turned the ball over 14 times. That’s never good. On a second note, Denver outscored the Lakers in the paint, holding a 54-38 advantage. Finally, how does any team stop Nikola Jokic? The Lakers have had no answer to slow down Jokic. In Game 2, Jokic was unstoppable, scoring 27 points, collecting 20 rebounds and handing out 10 assists.   

He made this. pic.twitter.com/OTim2JoZRH

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) April 23, 2024

Making the defeat even harder to swallow is that both LeBron James and Anthony Davis played well. Davis, before Murray stuck that fadeaway jumper in his face at the buzzer, held his own against Jokic with 32 points and 11 rebounds. James answered with 26 points and 12 assists. 

Game 3 and Game 4 are going to be interesting. Either the Lakers are going to fight their way back into the series or the Nuggets are going to break out the boom handles and sweep Los Angeles at Crypto.com Arena. 

Right now, the Nuggets are like sharks in the water that smell blood. They’re coming. So now the Lakers have to go and protect their home court. Good luck with that. The Lakers don’t have an answer on how to stop Jokic. Murray has become indefensible, especially at crunch time. 

The Lakers have to play desperate to have a chance to win the next two games. That might not be enough to keep Denver from finishing off this series quickly.

Lead Photo Caption: Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) goes up for a shot against Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) during the second half in Game 2 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Monday, April 22, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)