Nikola Jokic's late surge powers Nuggets past Lakers for 3-0 series lead
On a night when he wasn't his best, Nikola Jokic turned it up when the Denver Nuggets needed him most. In Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals Saturday, Jokic exploded in the fourth quarter to help the Nuggets win 119-108 and take a commanding 3-0 series lead.
After struggling through the first three quarters, Jokic caught fire late in a close contest, scoring 15 fourth-quarter points as the Nuggets pulled away for the victory.
Heading into the fourth, Jokic was playing with four fouls and had only nine points, shooting 4-of-12 from the field. However, he was nearly perfect in the final stanza, nailing 5-of-7 field goal attempts for 15 points.
Jokic finished with 24 points while also bringing down eight rebounds, which put him in some historic company. According to ESPN Stats and Info, Jokic joined Hall of Famer Oscar Roberston (1961-62) as only the second player in NBA history to record 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 800 assists in a single season, including the regular season and playoffs.
While talking with reporters following Denver's colossal victory, head coach Michael Malone called Jokic "Coach," revealing that the multiple-time MVP called plays for the Nuggets down the stretch.
Jokic may have closed out Game 3, but his supporting cast made it possible by picking up the team's leader early on. Jamal Murray had another outstanding game, scoring 37 points with seven rebounds and six assists. Meanwhile, fellow starters Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Michael Porter Jr. combined for 31 points, and Bruce Brown recorded 15 points coming off the bench.
On the other side, the Lakers, down 3-0, now face a near-impossible hill to climb. While no NBA team has overcome the deficit in the postseason, the Lakers have barely put up a fight, never winning a game in a series after being down 3-0.
More must-reads: