The Los Angeles Lakers looked like they were going to get a big win in Game 2 of their first-round series against the Denver Nuggets on Monday, but a fourth-quarter collapse gave them the lead and they lost 101-99.
The Lakers led by as many as 20 points and entered the first half with a 15-point lead. The Nuggets cut the lead in the third quarter, but Los Angeles still led by 10 points entering the final quarter. Denver then went on a 22-8 run, cutting the deficit to just five points heading into the final minutes, quickly tying the game.
Things went back and forth, with the Lakers taking a two-point lead on LeBron James' layup with less than a minute left, but Jamal Murray tied it on the next possession. After Los Angeles' go-ahead shot attempt failed, Murray hit a step-back jumper at the buzzer for the win and gave Denver a 2-0 series lead.
After the loss, NBA fans blamed the Lakers for their monumental collapse.
The feel of Monday night's game ended up being all too familiar for the Lakers. In Saturday's loss, the Lakers held a double-digit lead but collapsed in the third quarter and lost Game 1 of the series. Denver has won six straight playoff games against the Lakers since last season's Western Conference Finals.
Perhaps a return to Los Angeles will help the Lakers regroup as they try to avoid a seemingly insurmountable 3-0 deficit. Game 3 between Los Angeles and Denver will be played Thursday at 10pm ET.
