The Los Angeles Lakers appeared to have a big win in Game 2 of their first-round series against the Denver Nuggets on Monday, but a fourth-quarter collapse led to a huge lead and a 101-99 loss.
The Lakers led by 20 and had a 15-point lead at the half. The Nuggets led in the third, but Los Angeles still led by 10 going into the final quarter. Denver then went on a 22-8 run to cut the deficit to five and tie things up quickly in the closing minutes.
Things went back and forth, with the Lakers taking a two-point lead less than a minute after a LeBron James rally, but Jamaal Murray tied it on the next possession. After Los Angeles' go-ahead shot attempt failed, Murray hit a step-back jumper at the buzzer to win and give Denver a 2-0 series lead.
After the loss, NBA fans ripped the Lakers for their monumental slump.
The feeling of Monday night's game is one the Lakers are all too familiar with. In Saturday's loss, the Lakers held a double-digit lead before collapsing in the third quarter to drop the first game of the series. Denver has now won six straight playoff games against the Lakers dating back to last season's Western Conference Finals.
Perhaps a return to Los Angeles will help the Lakers regroup as they avoid an insurmountable 3-0 deficit. Game 3 between Los Angeles and Denver is Thursday at 10 p.m. ET.
