NBA Playoffs Finals Game 3 – Denver Nuggets vs Lakers

After having delivered, all the answers that Lakers needed thus far, the Denver Nuggets now currently stand, just one game away, from cleanly sweeping the Los Angeles Lakers from the Western Conference NBA Playoffs Finals

Nuggets Overall Performance at The NBA Playoffs Finals.

The Nuggets have shown grace and sportsmanship with an added tenaciousness by taking each game methodically. In Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals, the Nuggets beat Lakers 119-108 on Saturday. Nuggets now lead the Western Conference finals 3-0, thanks to Jamal Murray’s 37 points. If the Denver Nuggets win Mondays Game 4 against Lakers then, Denver will be proud to have reached the Championship game for the first time, in its franchise history. They will then face The Miami Heat or Boston Celtics as their opponents.

Dismal Lakers Performance in Fourth Quarter of Game 3 Finals NBA Playoffs

Denver, which had a grudge against the NBA’s premier squad for the entire series, did not have an easy victory, though. In the last quarter of Game 3 against the Denver Nuggets, the Lakers lost the large early advantage, which did not go down well with the Lakers home crowd.

Runner-up for MVP or Most Valued Player, Nikola Jokic , although he finished with 24 points, 8 assists, and 6 rebounds, Nikola Jokic may have had his quietest postseason performance, yet. He also struggled with foul trouble for the majority of the contest. Once more, the Lakers had a free-throw advantage over the Nuggets, outshooting them 29-19. 

The Nuggets allowed only five turnovers, with strong performances from practically every member of their rotation. Of particular note were Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Bruce Brown, who combined for 32 points, who avoided the mistakes that the Lakers frequently force.

Caldwell-Pope The Stealer of the Game from Lakers

As the Nuggets fended off a ferocious Lakers comeback in the third quarter, it was Kentavious Caldwell-Pope of Nuggets, who not only scored 10 points, but also stole one of D’Angelo Russell’s crosscourt pass. Now, with just 4:19 left in the frame, the crowd witnessed, an all season game reversal, the one that was running away from the Lakers, at the LA Crypto.com Arena.

Whenever Denver has gone on lengthy runs, the Lakers haven’t been able to halt the bleeding. Game 3’s fourth quarter was taken over by Denvers, after a 13-0 surge.

Both a stellar first half from each of the Nuggets’ studs and another terrible performance from D’Angelo Russell (3 points on 1-of-8 shooting) didn’t hurt Nuggets. The Nuggets led the Lakers by as much as 14 points in the first quarter thanks to a scorching Murray, but they couldn’t overcome them. Jokic had a quiet first half (5 points on 2-of-8 shooting), but Davis had an outstanding start and there was a free throw deficit .

The game turned in second half, with Nikola Jokic going from 2-of-8 in the first half, to finishing with 24 points on 9-of-19 shooting, eight assists, and six rebounds. James hit his first two 3-point attempts of the series on consecutive possessions. Murray went dry in the third quarter. The Nuggets held the lead for the majority of the second half until beginning to pull away halfway through the fourth with a 13-0 run.

Will Lakers Turn Over History at NBA Playoffs Finals

No NBA team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit in a best-of-seven series, and the Lakers don’t have any chance of doing so. If the Lakers come back with a win on Monday, they will be the first team to ever make a come back.