NBA

After committing seven turnovers in Game 1, LeBron was only responsible for two in Game 2. He did what he could in the fourth quarter, shooting 5-of-9 from the field, but the Lakers appeared to run out of gas. That impacted the cohesion of their offense, and Denver successfully walked them down, with Jamal Murray’s shot at the buzzer being the difference. The two nights off will be massive for James and the Lakers, who had to navigate a Play-In game to get into the playoffs. Game 3 is on Thursday night in Los Angeles, with the Nuggets holding a 2-0 series lead.

Much was made about Russell’s poor Game 1, especially considering how poorly he played in last season’s Western Conference Finals. He appeared to have a point to prove to begin Game 2, as D’Lo hit all three of his 3-point attempts and scored nine points in the first quarter. He finished with an efficient 23, shooting 7-of-11 from beyond the arc. However, he was 2-of-6 from the field in the second half, which was a decrease in production the Lakers can’t afford, given the caliber of the opponent they’re up against. Russell and the Lakers head home for Game 3 on Thursday.

Once again, Davis produced a gaudy stat line against the Nuggets. Unfortunately for him and the Lakers, they still lost the game, as Jamal Murray’s stepback jumper as time expired was the difference. And Davis offered little in the fourth quarter, missing his lone shot attempts and going scoreless with one rebound and one turnover. If the Lakers are to have a chance of winning the series, AD can’t be non-existent in crunch time. The good news for Los Angeles is that Game 3 isn’t until Thursday in Los Angeles, as the team looked gassed down the stretch on Monday.

While Jamal Murray got hot in the fourth quarter, he shot 3-of-16 from the field in the first three periods of Game 2. Porter was one of the Nuggets who helped keep the team afloat, as Denver trailed by as much as 20 before rallying to take a 2-0 series lead. With the amount of attention the Lakers devote to Murray and Nikola Jokic, Porter and Aaron Gordon (14/7/3 in 40 minutes) will have opportunities to score. MPJ stepped up in a big way and was one of the unsung heroes in Game 2. The Nuggets head to Los Angeles for Game 3 on Thursday night.

Jokic recorded his 17th career playoff triple-double in Game 2, with the stat line including 20 of the Nuggets’ 45 rebounds on the night. Anthony Davis may have outscored him (32-27), but the Joker’s ability to impact games as a playmaker sets him apart from the competition. The Nuggets have now won the last ten meetings between the teams, and it’s fair to wonder if the streak has affected the psyche of the Lakers. The Nuggets visit Los Angeles for Game 3 on Thursday.

Murray had a rough night overall but saved his best for last. He scored 14 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter, including a fadeaway over Anthony Davis’s outstretched hand as time expired to give Denver a 2-0 series lead. Murray also shot 9-of-24 from the field in Game 1 but shot 4-of-9 from three on Saturday. On Monday, he missed all five attempts from beyond the arc. The series shifts to Los Angeles for Game 3, which will be played on Thursday.

Vanderbilt was limited to 29 appearances during the regular season, the last of which occurred on February 1 in a win over the Celtics. He has reportedly been progressing in his recovery, and Thursday’s Game 3 could be when Vanderbilt returns to game action. According to McMenamin, the Lakers forward went through one of his most strenuous workouts on Monday, and the key now is how his body responds in the coming days. Vanderbilt won’t add much offensively, but when healthy, he is one of the Lakers’ best defenders.

A game-time decision for Game 2 due to an illness, Maxey made his first three shots (all 3-pointers). While he did commit four turnovers, the last of which led to Donte DiVincenzo’s game-winning three with 13.1 seconds remaining, the 76ers’ point guard had a good night overall. Unfortunately for Philadelphia, the efforts of Maxey and Embiid weren’t enough on a night when no other 76ers player scored more than ten points (Tobias Harris). They’ll look to rebound on Thursday when the series shifts to Philadelphia for Game 3.

Embiid recorded a gaudy stat line in Game 2, but the reigning MVP is limited in his movements. While he did score 18 of his 34 points in the second half, he did not grab a single rebound. The two days off before Game 3 in Philadelphia are much-needed for Embiid, who deserves high praise for gutting through a knee that is nowhere near full strength. He should appear on the injury report ahead of Game 3, even though Embiid will be expected to play.

After playing 18 minutes in Game 1, Hartenstein was more involved on both ends of the floor in Game 2. He shot 7-of-8 from the field, and one of his three blocked shots was a Tyrese Maxey layup attempt that preserved the Knicks’ lead in the final seconds. Two OG Anunoby free throws and a Joel Embiid missed three later, and New York had a 2-0 series lead after holding serve at home. Mitchell Robinson (four rebounds, one assist in 18 minutes) had the “hot hand” in Game 1, and the minutes reflected that. On Monday, it was Hartenstein’s time to shine. Game 3 is on Thursday in Philadelphia.