LA Lakers Snatch Game 2, After Anthony Davis’ Buzzer-Beater, 105-103

After a dramatic ending, the LA Lakers won Game 2 that saw Anthony Davis sinking a buzzer-beater three to shut down the surging Denver Nuggets, 105-103.

With 2.1 seconds to go, Rajon Rondo was about to take an inbound-pass. Lakers’ point guard saw that the Nuggets didn’t have proper communication and that Antony Davis has a chance to seal the game. After receiving the ball to his teammate, AD was routine from downtown, and the LAL was up 2-0 in the series.

“This is what they brought me here for,” Davis said. “To make big plays.”

And the Lakers’ center did that all night. He would finish the game with 31 points, nine rebounds, and two blocks. This three was his second of the game, with the Eyebrow being 11-of-23 from the field.

“To me, AD coming off, just flying to the wing like that, catch-and-shoot with the biggest game on the line of our season, nothing but net, it’s a Mamba shot,” Frank Vogel stated,

Nikola Jokic tried to erase the mistake of the Nuggets’ defense, but he came too late to close Davis. It was obvious that his team didn’t do well during the final play.

“Just happened, a little bit of miscommunication. I think I had a really good contest, to be honest. I think I was right there. As soon as he shot the ball, he shot it really well. Like, I kind of felt it going in. Great players make great shots.”

The Joker scored 30 points, 11 of them in the final three minutes, which were all consecutive, leading his team to a 103-102 edge coming into the finish. Besides that, Denver’s center had 9 assists and six boards, hitting 11 of his 12 free-throw attempts.

Jamal Murray delivered 25 points, with six boards and four assists, while Michael Porter Jr. scored 15 with four rebounds in 20 minutes. Unfortunately for the Nuggets, these three guys were the only ones who had double-digit figures in the points column.

On the other side, LeBron had another excellent performance with 26 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists. LBJ was controlling the pace on the floor, jumping in occasionally to deliver in the offense.

“Rondo made the right read,” James said. “I definitely was thinking the ball was coming to me, but AD broke open behind me.”

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Danny Green both added 11 points each, and were excellent on the defensive side of the ball. The two have a quiet role in the Lakers’ lineup, but their contribution is very useful.

Along with James, these two guys are constantly rotating on Murray and are creating pressure on the rivals’ backcourt. With Rondo, who jumps in from time to time, they not only present problems in defense but know how to contribute in offense.

Being down two games is nothing new for Denver, who already had heroic comebacks during this postseason. This time they are not in a situation to go home after losing the next match, but if they do, their position would be pretty much similar.

The Lakers, meanwhile, started the series with a controversial win, which was their first triumph in the series-openers in this playoff. There were many negative reactions to the officiating in that clash, most of them suggesting that the LAL had massive help from the referees.

Game 3 of this series is this Tuesday.