Denver Hosts Los Angeles with 1-0 Series Lead
Mayhem in the Mile High City
LeBron's Last-Ditch Effort Blocked by Gordon
The Denver Nuggets welcomed the Los Angeles Lakers to the Mile High City on Monday night, holding a commanding 1-0 lead in their first-round Western Conference playoff series. The Lakers, who finished the regular season eighth in the West with a record of 47-35, were looking to even the series up before heading back to Los Angeles. However, it was the Nuggets who once again emerged victorious, taking a 2-0 lead in the series with a 115-108 win.
The game was a back-and-forth affair throughout, with neither team able to gain a significant advantage. The Lakers led by as many as seven points in the first half, but the Nuggets rallied to tie the game at 55-55 heading into halftime. The second half saw more of the same, with the teams trading baskets and neither team able to pull away.
With just over a minute remaining in the game, the Lakers had a chance to tie the score. LeBron James drove to the basket and attempted a layup, but his shot was blocked by Aaron Gordon. The Nuggets then secured the rebound and hit a free throw to seal the victory.
James led the Lakers with 30 points, while Anthony Davis added 21 points and 12 rebounds. However, the Lakers' supporting cast struggled to make an impact, with Russell Westbrook shooting just 3-of-17 from the field and Kendrick Nunn scoring just 6 points.
Nikola Jokic led the way for the Nuggets with 31 points, 13 rebounds, and 8 assists. Jamal Murray added 18 points, and Gordon had 17 points and 10 rebounds. The Nuggets' bench also played a key role in the victory, with Bones Hyland scoring 15 points and Bruce Brown adding 11 points.
The Lakers will now head back to Los Angeles for Game 3, which is scheduled for Thursday night. The Nuggets will look to close out the series at home in Game 4 on Saturday night.
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