![]() ![]() ![]() The new group - the normal starting lineup of Anthony Davis, James, Jarred Vanderbilt, Reaves and D’Angelo Russell - fared better but still was outscored by three points in 14 minutes, per NBA.com. changed its starting group after two disastrous stints in Game 1. “We could tell they were tired too.” - Jones L.A. ![]() “We were tired by the end of the game,” Murray said. Malone said he made that decision because the Lakers went on a 10-0 run in the non-Jokić minutes in the second quarter. Jokić played the entire third quarter and played into the fourth quarter for the first time in the series. Jeff Green played 15 minutes, but essentially this was a six-man game, with Bruce Brown playing 37 minutes off the bench. But, Reggie Jackson played just three minutes - because of foul trouble with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope - and rookie Christian Braun played just a little over four minutes. He actually played nine guys when he normally plays eight. With how important Game 2 was, Malone squeezed his rotation a bit, for the first time in the postseason. That Denver prevailed without a field goal from Jokić in the final period was a testament to Murray’s brilliance and Denver’s resolve in Game 2. When Jokić hit the bench at the 9:38 mark of the fourth quarter for a two-minute rest with the Nuggets down by two, Murray’s heater was well underway, helping Denver prevail during what could have been a dicey stretch without its superstar center. The presence of Jokić, who draws significant attention from the Los Angeles defense, helped kick-start an all-time fourth-quarter flurry from Murray, who had 23 points in the period. With the Nuggets trailing 79-76 entering the final period, Malone elected to leave Jokić on the floor. Typically, the two-time MVP rests at the start of the fourth quarter. Nuggets coach Michael Malone changed up the rest pattern for Jokić and it paid off for Denver. The Athletic’s instant analysis: Adjustment pays dividends for Nuggets Los Angeles went 23-of-26 from the free-throw line while Denver was 16-of-18.Rui Hachimura added 21 off the bench, helping the Lakers to a five-point lead at halftime. LeBron James and Austin Reaves paced the Lakers with 22 points each.Nikola Jokić put up a 23-point, 17-rebound, 12-assist outing, moving into third all-time in playoff triple-doubles (13). Jamal Murray led the Nuggets with 37 points - 23 of them in the fourth quarter - on 11-of-24 shooting, including six 3s.The Denver Nuggets beat the Los Angeles Lakers 108-103 in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals Thursday at home behind a strong second-half shooting performance, taking a 2-0 lead in the series. By Jovan Buha, Nick Kosmider and Tony Jones ![]()
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