With a 114–106 victory led by Nikola Jokic, whose magic is still somehow under-appreciated in NBA circles, the Nuggets not only climbed back in the Western Conference Finals, but they also exposed a dirty, little L.A. secret.
LeBron James and Anthony Davis are the Truth with a capital “T.” But the rest of this L.A. team (here’s looking at you, JaVale McGee and Dwight Howard), are front-running Fakers with a capital “F.”
“Everybody always has us packing our backs and leaving, but we’re not ready to go,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. “For some reason, we love this bubble. I can’t explain that, but this team loves the bubble.”
Maybe, just maybe, what we saw in Game 3: Denver burst the Lakers’ bubble of invincibility.
“We feel we should be up 2–1 right now (in the series), to be honest,” said guard Jamal Murray, who scored 28 points, including the most clutch baskets at crunch time.
Does this L.A. story remind you of anything? Does it maybe have a little resemblance to another recent series against a team from Los Angeles that was expected to treat the Nuggets like nothing more than a nuisance?
Well, it was a victory Denver gave away to the Clippers that made Jokic and Murray believe they were the equal of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. Maybe that buzzer-beater by Davis Sunday night told the Nuggets there’s no reason to fear the Lakers.
When Murray threw down a dunk to put Denver ahead 97–77 with 10 minutes, 36 seconds, remaining in the fourth quarter, he punctuated it with his mean mug, which embodies the competitive bile that has defined this team during its forever-feisty playoff run.
But the Lakers responded with a zone defense that flustered Denver and went on a 19–2 run to pull within three points midway through the final quarter. That’s when the Nuggets were forced to look in the mirror and decide if they were ready for their L.A. close-up.
“We believed,” Malone said.
We’ve got a series now. And the Nuggets, down 2–1, are not afraid.
AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post
LeBron James (23) of the Los Angeles Lakers grabs a rebound away from Jamal Murray (27) of the Denver Nuggets during the first quarter at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Florida on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020.
AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post
LeBron James (23) of the Los Angeles Lakers before the first quarter against the Denver Nuggets at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Florida on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020.
AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post
Members of the Los Angeles Lakers kneel for the national anthem before the first quarter against the Denver Nuggets at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Florida on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020.
AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post
Jamal Murray (27) of the Denver Nuggets kneels for the national anthem before the first quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Florida on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020.
AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post
Anthony Davis (3) of the Los Angeles Lakers takes it to the hoop against Jerami Grant (9) of the Denver Nuggets during the first quarter at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Florida on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020.
AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post
LeBron James (23) of the Los Angeles Lakers works in transition as Gary Harris (14) of the Denver Nuggets and Jerami Grant (9) defend during the first quarter at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Florida on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020.
AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post
Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets wrangles the ball as Anthony Davis (3) of the Los Angeles Lakers hits the floor during the first quarter at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Florida on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020.
AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post
Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets wrangles the ball as Anthony Davis (3) of the Los Angeles Lakers hits the floor during the first quarter at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Florida on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020.
AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (1) of the Los Angeles Lakers kets run over by Paul Millsap (4) of the Denver Nuggets after Millsap scored over him during the first quarter at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Florida on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020.
AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post
Anthony Davis (3) of the Los Angeles Lakers passes over Paul Millsap (4) of the Denver Nuggets during the first quarter at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Florida on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020.
AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post
Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets and Anthony Davis (3) of the Los Angeles Lakers match up during the second quarter at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Florida on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020.
AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post
Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets wins a loose ball away from Anthony Davis (3) of the Los Angeles Lakers during the first quarter at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Florida on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020.
AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post
Michael Malone of the Denver Nuggets and Monte Morris (11) greet Nikola Jokic (15) during a timeout against the Los Angeles Lakers in the first quarter at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Florida on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020.
AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post
LeBron James (23) of the Los Angeles Lakers passes to Anthony Davis (3) of the Los Angeles Lakers as Jamal Murray (27) and Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets defend during the first quarter at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Florida on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020.
AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post
LeBron James (23) of the Los Angeles Lakers looks for a foul call after Kyle Kuzma (0) took contact while making a three against the Denver Nuggets during the first quarter at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Florida on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020.
AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post
Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets sits on the floor after taking contact from Anthony Davis (3) of the Los Angeles Lakers during the first quarter at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Florida on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020.
AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post
LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers kicks it to Kyle Kuzma (0) for a three as Michael Porter Jr. (1) of the Denver Nuggets defends during the first quarter at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Florida on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020.
AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post
Anthony Davis (3) of the Los Angeles Lakers is defended by Michael Porter Jr. (1) of the Denver Nuggets and Jerami Grant (9) during the second quarter at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Florida on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020.
AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post
Danny Green (14) of the Los Angeles Lakers fouls Jerami Grant (9) of the Denver Nuggets as Anthony Davis (3) provides help defense during the second quarter at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Florida on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020.
AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post
Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets and Dwight Howard (39) of the Los Angeles Lakers tangle as Monte Morris (11) takes the ball during the second quarter at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Florida on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020.
AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post
Rajon Rondo (9) of the Los Angeles Lakers works as Michael Porter Jr. (1), Nikola Jokic (15), Torrey Craig (3) and Jerami Grant (9) of the Denver Nuggets all collapse on him during the first quarter at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Florida on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020.
AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post
Anthony Davis (3) of the Los Angeles Lakers drives on Paul Millsap (4) of the Denver Nuggets during the second quarter at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Florida on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020.
AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post
Dwight Howard (39) of the Los Angeles Lakers tips the ball over Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets during the second quarter at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Florida on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020.
AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post
Monte Morris (11) of the Denver Nuggets es LeBron James (23) of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second quarter at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Florida on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020.
AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post
Jamal Murray (27) of the Denver Nuggets drives as Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (1) of the Los Angeles Lakers defends during the second quarter at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Florida on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020.
AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post
Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets forces a turnover by Anthony Davis (3) of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second quarter at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Florida on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020.
AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post
Dwight Howard (39) of the Los Angeles Lakers scores over Michael Porter Jr. (1) of the Denver Nuggets during the second quarter at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Florida on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020.
Got a second? I hate to gripe, as you know. But LeBron James and I have a beef with voters for the Most Valuable Player.
Late last week, Milwaukee forward Giannis Antetokounmpo accepted the MVP honor for the second consecutive season from the comfort of home, while James worked up a sweat in the NBA bubble.
Asked about receiving only 16 of 101 first-place votes for MVP, James snapped: “It (ticks) me off.”
The King’s English was a little saltier, but make no mistake. He was ticked off. Feeling disrespected and under-appreciated, James underlined his ire five, six, seven times.
“The voting scale is a little weird sometimes,” James said.
No joke. And here’s your proof: Jokic finished ninth in the MVP balloting. He received zero first-place votes, zero second-place votes and a mere two voters deemed Joker worthy of third place.
“I don’t know how much we’re really ing the game of basketball,” said James, hinting that voters fall in love with a narrative rather than analyzing the game.
Amen, brother.
Don’t we all know the narrative about Jokic? No big Joker from Serbia can possibly be the MVP. The way he plays does not fit our preconceived notions of what’s great basketball.
Is Jokic the best player in the NBA? No, he’s not.
Is there a player in the league more valuable to his team than Jokic? No, there isn’t.
“I love the Joker, man,” TNT analyst Charles Barkley said at halftime. “I might come out of retirement and play with him.”
If you love basketball, how do you not love Joker?
Barkley is 57 years old and his caboose is loaded to the ceiling with lard. But if Barkley came out of retirement for Game 4 and donned a Nuggets uniform, Joker could find a way to get jolly old Sir Charles three easy lay-ups.
Harry Potter doesn’t look like much. But his magic is real.
Joker is Potter in sneakers. Muggles will never understand.
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