LOS ANGELES – This wasn’t what Hollywood had in mind.
As the Lakers’ season all-but hung in the balance Saturday evening, Denver bulldozed into the City of Angels and re-wrote the script. Ugly, scrappy and united, the Nuggets took a commanding 3-0 lead in the Western Conference Finals with a stunning 119-108 victory.
The crowd, dotted with A-list celebrities like Denzel and Jack, sat dumbstruck. With 2:13 left in the fourth quarter, and the Nuggets sitting on a double-digit lead, Lakers fans started heading for the exits.
It was an ignominious ending to an ignominious showing from the Lakers, who prior to Saturday night, hadn’t lost at home during the playoffs.
By virtue of a Jamal Murray’s 37-point showing, 30 of which came in the first half, and a collective effort so overwhelming L.A. couldn’t compete, Denver inched ever so close to its first trip to the NBA Finals.
They can end it in Game 4 here Monday night.
