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SPORTS Thursday 24 sepTember 2020
Murray, Nuggets hang on in Game 3, cut Lakers' lead to 2-1

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. resting for their big run that
(AP) — They had just lost a started it. Denver began
playoff heartbreaker, and with a 7-0 spurt, the last five
two nights later the Denver from Michael Porter Jr., to
Nuggets quickly went from open a nine-point lead. Af-
in control to in trouble. ter a dunk by James, Mur-
Escaping trouble is what ray made a 3-pointer and
these Nuggets do best. Monte Morris scored the
"Everybody always has us next five to make it a 15-2
packing our bags and leav- start to the period and give
ing, but we're not ready to the Nuggets a 44-29 ad-
go," coach Michael Malo- vantage.
ne said. "For some reason It would grow to 18 and
we love this bubble." could have been worse if
They'll get at least two more not for Davis, who scored
games in it. nine straight Lakers points.
Jamal Murray had 28 Markieff Morris' 3-pointer
points, 12 assists and two trimmed it to 63-53 at half-
late 3-pointers to halt a time.
Lakers charge, helping the The Lakers got the first five
Nuggets to a 114-106 vic- points of the third to cut the
tory Tuesday night that cut lead in half, but Denver re-
Los Angeles' lead to 2-1 in gained control and led 93-
the Western Conference Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, left, goes up for a shot attempt as Los Angeles Lakers' LeB- 75 after three.
ron James, right rear, looks on during the second half of Game 3 of the NBA basketball Western
finals. Conference final Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Murray finished with eight
The Nuggets lost almost all Associated Press rebounds.
of a 20-point lead in the TIP-INS
fourth quarter but held on, to even the series on Thurs- baskets. and would have to be bet- Lakers: The Lakers had a
avoiding a 3-0 hole that day. "We played some pretty ter Tuesday. six-game winning streak
would have been daunting LeBron James had 30 good ball in the fourth Instead, it was the Nuggets snapped and fell to 10-3
even for this never-out-of-it points, 11 assists and 10 re- quarter, but those first 36 who raised their game and in these playoffs. ... Dwight
team. bounds — his 26th playoff minutes, that hurt us obvi- played from ahead, end- Howard started the second
"We feel that we should be triple-double — for the Lak- ously," James said. ing a streak of six straight half at center, replacing
up 2-1 right now, to be hon- ers, who remain two wins With Denver's lead down games where they trailed JaVale McGee.
est," Murray said. "So we're from their first NBA Finals to four, Murray made a at halftime. Nuggets: Denver's last half-
just going to move on to appearance in a decade. 3-pointer with 2:16 remain- "Maybe they can beat us time lead had been a 59-57
Game 4." Anthony Davis, who made ing. He then found Paul Mill- by 20, 30, they can beat us edge over the Clippers in
Denver has set a record by the winning 3-pointer at the sap under the basket for a by a last shot, but we just Game 3 of the West semi-
erasing two 3-1 deficits in buzzer in Game 2, scored score before hitting a long cannot quit," Jokic said. "Ef- finals. ... Malone wished his
this postseason, but no NBA 27 points. 3 to push the lead back to fort needs to be there." parents a happy anniversa-
team has ever come back The Nuggets led by 20 with 111-99 with 53 seconds to The Lakers built leads of ry during his interview after
from 3-0. 10 1/2 minutes left and soon play. 15 or more in the second the third quarter. His father,
Jerami Grant added a after were hanging on after Coach Frank Vogel ac- quarter of the first two Brendan, was a longtime
playoff career-high 26 the Lakers charged back knowledged the Lak- games. This time it was the NBA assistant coach who
points and Nikola Jokic had with a 19-2 run, turning to a ers were fortunate to win Nuggets who started to run also coached the Toronto
22 points and 10 rebounds zone defense and forcing Game 2, in which they away in that period, even Raptors in 1995-96, their in-
for the Nuggets, who will try turnovers that led to easy committed 24 turnovers, with Jokic on the bench augural season.q

AP Source: Chargers' team doctor punctured Taylor's lung

COSTA MESA, Calif. (AP) minutes before kickoff that agent and have started an
— Los Angeles Chargers Taylor would be unable to investigation into the mat-
quarterback Tyrod Taylor play. ter. ESPN first reported the
missed last Sunday's game Herbert said he found out punctured lung.
because a team doctor he was playing right as the Taylor was briefly on the
accidentally punctured his Chargers were lining up to Chargers' injury report Fri-
lung, according to a per- receive the opening kick- day due to a rib injury he
son familiar with the case. off. suffered in the Sept. 13
The person spoke to The As- Taylor was taken to the opener against the Cincin-
sociated Press on condition hospital due to difficulties nati Bengals. He was taken
of anonymity Wednesday breathing after Lynn said off it, though, after fully par-
because of medical restric- he had a reaction to an in- ticipating in practice and
tion issues. jection. Taylor was released taking all of the snaps with
Rookie Justin Herbert was Sunday night and was at the first team.
the Chargers' surprise start- the Chargers' complex on Lynn did not have an up-
er in last Sunday's 23-20 Monday. date on Taylor's status on Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Tyrod Taylor (5) looks to
overtime loss to the Kan- The NFL Players Associa- Monday. He said that if throw during the first half of an NFL football game against the
sas City Chiefs. Coach An- tion said on Wednesday Taylor was 100%, he would Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020, in Cincinnati.
thony Lynn said he didn't that they have been in be the starter on Sunday Associated Press
find out until less than five contact with Taylor and his against Carolina. q