In the first round of the NBA playoffs G2, the Lakers and the Nuggets had a fierce rematchup. In the first game, the Nuggets took a 1-0 lead with a comeback victory. The second game was equally intense, ending with the Nuggets beating the Lakers 101-99 and taking a 2-0 lead.
The Lakers' Russell hit three consecutive three-pointers to take the lead, and Davis was also active inside, helping the Lakers lead to 11 points. However, then Jokic began to exert his strength, and a series of offensive successes helped the Nuggets gradually catch up with the score. In the second half, the Lakers extended their offensive to widen the margin to double digits, but the Nuggets rebounded 13-0 to catch up with the score. In the final quarter, the Nuggets' counterattack was even more violent, once chasing the difference to only 1 point.
In the final moments of the game, Jokic and Murray both stepped up, the former helping the Nuggets tie the score, and the latter completing the stunner with a mid-range shot to help the Nuggets beat the Lakers 101-99.
In the full-court statistics, the Lakers' James scored 26 points, 8 boards, 12 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks, Davis scored 32 points, 11 rebounds and 2 assists, and Russell had 23 points, 3 rebounds and 6 assists. As for the Nuggets, Jokic got 27 points, 20 boards, 10 assists and 2 steals and a double 20 triple-double, Murray also had an excellent performance, contributing 20 points, 3 rebounds and 5 assists, Porter and Gordon also contributed 22 points, 9 rebounds and 2 steals and 14 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists respectively.
After this game, the Nuggets won the playoffs for the second time in their history and their first playoff home victory, while the Lakers faced a 0-2 deficit. The outstanding performances of the Nuggets players, especially Jokic and Murray, were undoubtedly key to this victory.