The Denver Nuggets continue to dominate the Los Angeles Lakers, with the reigning and defending NBA champions starting to pull away from their rivals in the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs. It hasn’t been easy work for Denver thus far, though, as the Nuggets had to come from behind to beat the Lakers in each of the two meetings.
Game 2 was the more memorable comeback for Denver, as Michael Malone and his man had to erase a 20-point Lakers lead in order to come away with a 101-99 victory and take a commanding 2-0 series lead.
Michael Malone Reveals the Intangible Factors Behind the Nuggets’ Comeback Win in Game 2
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Malone said that the successful come-from-behind victory in Game 2 was more of a product of the team’s familiarity with each other than any schemes the team drew up on the whiteboard.
Via Harrison Wind of DNVR Sports:
Michael Malone on the Nuggets’ Game 2 comeback: “Xs and Os, drawing up a play, that’s all good. That’s fine. What it ultimately comes down to is relationships, and the connection, the chemistry, the love that our group has for each other.”
“We’re never out of games.”
As the defending NBA champs and with their 2022-23 core pretty much intact, it’s hard to deny the big role of the Nuggets’ chemistry in winning both games against the Lakers in this postseason. That Denver quality will be put to the test once again this Thursday, as they play the Lakers on the road with a chance to go up 3-0 in the series.
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