Jamal Murray didn't play well for most of the time, so much so that Lakers fans began to dream of ending an embarrassing nine-game losing streak against the Nuggets and returning home to turn the series around. But at the last second, Jamal Murray made a resolute move after a smart operation, and the dream of Lakers fans was completely shattered.
The remnants of shattered dreams float on the Denver Plateau, like dried meat hanging from the branches of a tree after being scorched by the sun.
After losing the first game of the series, the Lakers did not make any adjustments in the next second game, but the overall state of the players has changed somewhat. The biggest change was D'Angelo Russell, who made only 6 of 20 shots in the first game, making him the target of public criticism after the game.
The Lakers played pretty well in the first half, going 8-0 in the final two minutes of the halftime and heading into halftime with a 15-point lead. Back in the game, Anthony Davis hit Jamal Murray twice 2+1, Austin Rivers' three-pointer went into the heart of the Nuggets, and the Lakers' lead had reached 20 points.
Then it was time for the Nuggets to fight back, and with 75 seconds left before the end of the game, Michael Porter Jr.'s three-point shot helped the Nuggets tie the score. Then Jamal Murray took over the game and pulled off a stunner to keep the win at home.
Jamal Murray scored just 6 points on 3-of-16 shooting in the first three quarters and 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting in the final quarter before redeeming himself in the final quarter. Mike Malone said after the game, "This is Jamal (Murray) in the playoffs, and the stats are the best proof of that. A lot of All-Star players can't match him in the playoffs. ”
If it weren't for that stunner, the Lakers might have picked up a win and then returned home to win the Nuggets to take the series lead, but Jamal Murray changed that. It wasn't Jamal Murray alone who was able to beat the Lakers, but he put the last shovel in the ground to bury the Lakers.
"This kind of defeat stung us. Darwin Hamm said in an interview.
The Lakers lost 10 straight against the Nuggets, and they tried to find ways to solve the problem, and in a sense, the Lakers were almost able to end the embarrassment. This is not just a win for the Lakers, but also a key to their confidence, and the game against the Nuggets has now become a knot in the hearts of the Lakers, and they must let the knot open.
The Lakers lost the game and their 20-point lead was squandered, and head coach Darvin Ham said of the game after the game: "We're going to remember how we feel right now and go back to Los Angeles and start over." We need to return the favor in Game 3 and make the Nuggets feel the same way. ”
Yes, there will be no way back for the Lakers to return to their home court.
Adjusting from the form of the first game of the series, the Lakers played well in Series G2, but they were unable to maintain the game throughout the game, and the important reason was the roster configuration and rotation issues. Darvin Ham has never found a way to balance his squad, which is not unrelated to the injury reasons of the players, but also the lack of coaching ability.
This playoffs will determine whether Darwin Ham can keep his job.
(Text/Yan Wuqiang)