The Denver Nuggets call their first NBA Finals with the same vigor and gusto that Nikola Jokic, as a child, used to bang on the door of his house with a basket until the neighbor fumed and raged. As he hit the Lakers of LeBron James and Anthony Davis with 15 of his 24 points in the last quarter, when he seemed trapped in fear of fouls—he had to survive with 4 violations early in the third quarter—, Their chances and their morale on the ground with 108-119 and a disappointing 3-0 in these uneventful Western Finals to leave will celebrate their Game 4 on Monday: No one in history has pulled this far in the playoffs.
But once again Jamal Murray was more than just a kid, who indulged himself in his childish antics when he gave free rein to his imagination while playing. The way Jokic is horrified for his coolness to serve or point without thinking with his hands, the Canadian shrugs because, simply, he enjoys it, with that devilish half-smile that can be guessed on his face. Could and that suggests something to happen. “Five more (wins)! Five more!” Murray let go, just grabbing the ring as quickly as possible in his thoughts.
Holding Jokic, the Canadian had a great time, filling himself with 30 points in the first half and, although ‘punished’ by the Lakers in the second—he didn’t score again until the final quarter—, allowing him to do so. found a way to do it again with 7 points in the final quarter, while the double MVP scored 37 points—15/29 on shots and 5/11 triples—with 7 rebounds and 6 assists for 24 points—9 Considered a burden. /19 in TC and 2/5 in shots -, 6 catches and 8 basket passes for Nikola Jokic.
Denver’s stellar duo overtook the great effort of Anthony Davis—28 points on 11/18 shooting—and rebounds—and LeBron James, 23 points, 12 assists and 7 sacks on a night in which his new combination of triples—first The series was innocuous, with a 3/9-. Plus 23 points from the ever-present and compliant Austin Reeves, slipping through any crack.
The Lakers had to suffer like the neighbor for whom the Serb made life miserable when he started showing his ways, but, despite shutting him down for a while, they ended up without the strength to complain. , absent any sign of the classic and energetic impotence of the defeated who still had some pride left in them as they signed a premature surrender knowing of the superiority of the opponent, when the difference was difficult but not impossible, About ten were entering the last minute and a half.
As famous as the settings of purple and gold – Michael Malone complained – there is not even the same effective power that blackboard can have that can eclipse excellence. Not only individual, but also collective.
After the Lakers thwarted all traps set by Jokic and Murray—even at the cost of giving up their own identity—Denver endured rain during several minutes when the Serb was not on the floor in the third quarter, for lack of more Reason retired 7 minutes later after a controversial fourth foul on Davies, who was facing a pleasant oasis without the Serbian in the paint, just as Darvin Ham’s team had found a way to stop Murray, The effort of the first half was also reduced after Titanic.
However, displaying a team and an unbreakable unit, the Nuggets not only dismissed the third quarter without any significant losses, but also extended their lead from 64–68 to 82–84, taking just over 12 minutes early in the final. Was a moment behind. 85-84 with a one-time double MVP. The city of Hollywood turns not only its supporting actors into principals with the stories of Reeves, Hachimura and Walker IV as ‘backdrops’, but also visitors who already have something and have added more to it in the right place. absorbed more Los Angeles atmosphere, 17 points for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and 15 points for Bruce Brown off the bench.
An immediate but effective ‘Big Two’ that put Denver against LeBron and Davis against a good team without shaky data: only 4 points from Jokic and none from Murray.
A Jokic who cashed in on the kind of urban legend that circulated and accused the Nuggets of not playing a good defense and was, therefore, automatically kicked out of the first line of candidates for the most precious jewel. The falcon was not only able to stop the ‘eyebrow’ several times and hold on without a fifth foul, but also caught the guy with LeBron on the perimeter at the end.
The Lakers certainly proved they are too unbalanced a team to overcome in Denver today, while Mo Bamba could provide the addition, returning from his injury on Monday, or for a fantasy Game 5. ‘Bron’ and Davis will be able to do this with as many attempts as are necessary, but multiplying these nuggets to cover others that are not valid, as well as the old evil of triples, is unforgivable, 17 of them Only 31% with 10/32 against /41 (41.5%) from Colorado, which punished the neglect of the secondary guys, unlike the Los Angeles team.
LeBron James can point guard but he doesn’t have to justify it because the starter doesn’t do his job. D’Angelo Russell stood out in these series, repeating the point guard’s infamous performance with just 3 points on 1/8 shooting from the field and almost as many turnovers (3) as assists (4).
In addition to the triples issued -1/6-, his management as a pick-and-roll manager was disastrous, confused by the cloud of assists from the Nuggets around Jokic’s ‘drop’, when the Serbian did not apply much pressure, the player Were in favor of coming out stronger or weaker on sinking more of the Balkans.
He had to assume everything and direction, finding Davis in search of contact and opening up the weak side with Nikola Jokic in direct lateral blocks, as well as producing from the post and especially when double MVP Cani Field. But it was not.
The clarity and accuracy of ‘The King’ allowed the Lakers to rest easy by clinging to a game (55-58) they came to lose in 14, making gold in transition and with the fickle and elusive Murray , were bringing the opposite. Playing one-on-one reblocks with Jokic for his followers and leaving the screen to play those handoffs as if challenging his desperate defenders to play tag. With Hachimura at the top as Jokic more limited, the Canadian found a goldmine in clearing situations against Dennis Schroder.
The matter required immediate measures and Darwin Ham put on Jared Vanderbilt as Murray’s Bulldogs in the third quarter without Hachimura and with Davis and LeBron on the court. A breakthrough, but at the cost of a sacrifice attack, the Nuggets were going to fix Nikola Jokic under the basket without a mark to save him from the pick and roll – he was replaced by Aaron Gordon. ‘Eyebrows’ defended – as Vanderbilt did not pose an external threat. Great luck, fourth foul from the Serbian.
However, the Nuggets managed to maintain their defense of straight blocks and assists against the Lakers’ outside deficit by emphasizing their defense of straight blocks with Gordon on top of Davis, and between that, transitions and some ready-slate plays for Brown and Caldwell-Pope. . Jokic returned, and Murray held his breath.
Jokic’s last pass…and it’s over
And, once Jokic made his final interception, it was over. The Serb handled Hachimura at will, challenging him more at the low post, testing his rebounds, dodging Davis’ help when he came up with floating shots, forcing free throws And increasingly released 3-pointers with the Nuggets. ball through the net. The attraction generated by the center, which eventually became a giant, also in front of its circle. And of course reuniting with Murray.
Perhaps the narrative, as Michael Malone laments with his permanently red and angry puckered face, is on the Lakers’ side. But not a story that has never seen a return of such proportions or speech as the one that opened up Murray and shut down Jokic. There was discussion, but now there is almost no debate.
Los Angeles Lakers: LeBron James (23), Vanderbilt (2), Davis (28), Reeves (23), Russell (23).
Bankuillo: Hachimura (13), Schroder (6), Walker IV (9), Beasley, Brown Jr., Christie, Harrison, Thompson.
Denver Nuggets: Porter Jr. (14), Gordon (7), Jokic (24), Murray (37), Caldwell-Pope (17), Brown Jr. (15), Green (5), Braun.
Fractional: 20-32/35-26/27-26/26-35
Referees: Scott Foster, Bill Kennedy, Mark Lindsay.
Events: Game 3 of the Conference Finals (West) held at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles before 18,997 spectators. The Nuggets now win the series 3–0.
