DENVER (AP) — LeBron James looked bright red after the game. Los Angeles Lakers watched A great opportunity is missed.
His frustration wasn't centered around losing a 20-point lead. Or, a late 3-point shot failed and the game ended in a tie. Or Jamal Murray's fading buzzer-beater that gave the Denver Nuggets a 101-99 victory over the Lakers in Game 2 of their first-round series on Monday night.
James' anger was further afield – NBA replay center Located in Secaucus, New Jersey. His ire centered on a late foul on Michael Porter Jr., which the league overturned, saying MPJ had only slight contact with D'Angelo Russell.
“To be honest, I don't understand what's going on at the Replay Center,” James said. The team heads back to Los Angeles for Game 3 on Thursday, facing a 2-0 deficit. “D-Roe was obviously hit in the face with a drive. What (expletive) do we have a replay center… it doesn't make sense. It doesn't make sense. It bothers me. .”
In a postgame interview after watching Murray and the Nuggets storm back from a 68-48 hole to beat the Lakers for their 10th straight victory, James wasn't his usual happy-go-lucky personality.
James had a chance to give the Lakers the lead with a wide-open 3-pointer with about 16 seconds left.
James, who had 26 points and 12 assists, lamented, “It was no good.''
Porter grabbed the rebound and hit a fadeaway jumper over Anthony Davis as time expired, setting up Murray's game-winning goal.
James got the point right after the game.
— On Denver's comeback, which included a 32-20 loss in the fourth inning: “We missed shots. We still had great looks, but we just missed them. And they made it. It is.”
— On Russell, who hit seven threes after going 1-of-9 from deep in the series opener: “We never lost faith in him. Dillow is Dillow.”
— On whether the Lakers can take anything from this game into Game 3 in Los Angeles: “Every game is its own challenge.”
— On the challenges after a heartbreaking loss: “Of course, it's a heartbreaking game, so you don't want to lose like that.”
It was then that James began voicing his dissatisfaction with the Replay Center. Murray was called for a foul early in the game when James drove to the basket, but the Nuggets successfully challenged him to shake off the foul.
During his rant at the Replay Center, James referenced Monday's game in which the New York Knicks fought back with 30 seconds left. Or a big win of 104-101. against the Philadelphia 76ers. The Knicks' possession began with Donte DiVincenzo making a go-ahead 3-pointer with 13 seconds left and stealing the ball from Tyrese Maxey. Joel Embiid said Maxey was fouled and that coach Nick Nurse and some players tried to call a timeout before the Knicks got the ball.
“What are we doing?” James said after his postgame interview.
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