Watch: Former Kentucky standout Jamal Murray hits crazy game-winner in Game 2
By Alec Lasley
The NBA Playoffs are heating up and it's due to the play of numerous former Kentucky players.
Look no further than Monday night, when it was Jamal Murray and Anthony Davis who put together signature performances in a terrific game two between the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers.
Despite a bit of a shaky shooting performance for Murray for the majority of the night, finishing with 20 points on 9-of-24 shooting, he hit the biggest shot of the game.
It was tied up at 99-all, as Murray dribbled up the left side of the floor guarded by LeBron James. He went into a ball screen that gave him a mismatch with Anthony Davis switching on to him. He then dribbled to the short corner on the right side of the floor, planted hard on his left leg and stepped back for a fadeaway jumper, releasing the ball with .8 seconds left. Boom - nothing but net as time expired, giving the Nuggets a 101-99 win.
"I just lost my balance and fell," Murray said after the game. "I think AD was in my way or somebody was in my way, and I just heard everybody scream -- and that's how I knew it went in."
Murray has shot 9-of-24 from the field in both games 1 and game 2. But, his struggles haven't impacted his mentality or his teammates'.
"They told me to stay aggressive and keep looking for it, keep hunting," Murray said of his teammates. "When I had the ball with 2 seconds left, I knew once I had made a couple the next one should go down, as well."
Anthony Davis carried the load for the majority of the game for the Lakers, scoring 32 points on 14-of-19 from the field. But, he missed his last four shots and didn't score after the 7:15 mark of the third quarter.
Murray's jumper capped off a 20-point comeback.
The Nuggets lead the series 2-0. Game 3 is Thursday night at 10:00 pm ET.