The Nuggets' stars didn't do their damage at the same time against the Lakers on Saturday night, but their combined effort propelled Denver to a Game 3 win and 3-0 series lead.
Jamal Murray exploded for 30 points in the first half, finishing with 37 points on 15-of-29 shooting in the 119-108 victory. Nikola Jokic struggled through the first three quarters of Game 3, but he threw the knockout blow, scoring 15 of his 24 points in the final frame.
"It's a team effort. We're a free-flowing team," Murray told ESPN's Lisa Salters. "Sometimes it may not be your night or your quarter, but if you stay with it, do the right things on the court, the ball will find energy and come back to you."
Anthony Davis had 28 points and 18 rebounds, and LeBron James totaled 23 points, 12 assists and seven rebounds in the loss. Los Angeles will now attempt to become the first team in NBA history to overcome a 3-0 deficit.
The Sporting News tracked live scoring updates and highlights from Game 3 of Lakers vs. Nuggets. Check out all of the action you may have missed right here.
MORE: How Nikola Jokic is outsmarting the Lakers
Lakers vs. Nuggets score
Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
Lakers | 20 | 35 | 27 | 26 | 108 |
Nuggets | 32 | 26 | 26 | 35 | 119 |
Lakers vs. Nuggets live score, updates, highlights from Game 3
(All times Eastern)
Final: Nuggets 119, Lakers 108
11:05 p.m. ET — What a performance by the Nuggets. They are one win away from the NBA Finals.
GAME 3 FINAL SCORE
— NBA (@NBA) May 21, 2023
DEN: 119
LAL: 108
Denver leads 3-0 🔒 pic.twitter.com/FDbneyrg34
10:50 p.m. ET — The Nuggets hit the Lakers with a 9-0 run. Uh oh. Los Angeles is in the danger zone.
Murray for 3️⃣
— NBA (@NBA) May 21, 2023
9-0 Denver run in Q4 on ABC 👀 pic.twitter.com/EeDLQsk11l
10:45 p.m. ET — Nikola Jokic puts Rui Hachimura in the spin cycle. What a nice move and reverse layup.
Jokic spin and-1 🌪
— NBA (@NBA) May 21, 2023
DEN reclaims the lead, 4Q on ABC! pic.twitter.com/SrSd4jLWIC
10:35 p.m. ET — Rui Hachimura has been terrific for the Lakers throughout their playoff run.
HACHIMURA FOR THE LEAD 🎯
— NBA (@NBA) May 21, 2023
Get to ABC for the 4th quarter!#NBAConferenceFinals presented by @GooglePixel_US pic.twitter.com/JvMNLx7mon
End of third quarter: Nuggets 84, Lakers 82
10:30 p.m. ET — LeBron James drills back-to-back 3-pointers near the end of the third quarter, but the Nuggets hold a two-point lead heading into the final frame.
LEBRON JAMES.
— NBA (@NBA) May 21, 2023
BACK-TO-BACK THREES.
4Q next on ABC ‼
DEN: 84
LAL: 82 pic.twitter.com/KfzfGKsBfc
10:20 p.m. ET — Austin Reaves comes off the pick-and-roll... swish. Tie game.
Austin Reaves for three 💦
— NBA (@NBA) May 21, 2023
TIE GAME in Q3 on ABC! pic.twitter.com/TdrCfDi1LR
10:15 p.m. ET — A huge call here. Nikola Jokic picks up his fourth foul. Michael Malone uses his challenge, but it is unsuccessful.
Jokic was called for his fourth foul on this play.
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 21, 2023
The Nuggets challenged the call. pic.twitter.com/RRXRd57KfP
10:10 p.m. ET — The Nuggets push their lead to nine early in the third quarter, but the Lakers then chop it down to three. Back and forth we go.
VANDO SLAM!
— NBA (@NBA) May 21, 2023
Lakers cut the lead to 3, Q3 live on ABC.#NBAConferenceFinals presented by @GooglePixel_US pic.twitter.com/Um7nFVgTd3
Halftime: Nuggets 58, Lakers 55
9:45 p.m. ET — Jamal Murray had 30 points in the first half, but LeBron James, Anthony Davis and the Lakers stormed back to cut the deficit to three points.
LeBron coast-to-coast 💪
— NBA (@NBA) May 21, 2023
Late 2Q | WCF Game 3 LIVE on ABC! pic.twitter.com/LSHiD0DVoq
9:40 p.m. ET — Scott Foster, who is serving as the crew chief for Game 3, is bleeding from his mouth after bumping into LeBron James in transition. Ouch.
Scott Foster.
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) May 21, 2023
Playoff basketball. pic.twitter.com/MxJznMcO94
9:30 p.m. ET — JAMAL MURRAY. OH MY. This guy is unstoppable.
JAMAL MURRAY.
— NBA (@NBA) May 21, 2023
26 1ST-HALF POINTS.
HE WOKE UP IN #PLAYOFFMODE
WCF Game 3 | ABC pic.twitter.com/4uDL7DTYCF
9:25 p.m. ET — Austin Reaves is giving the Lakers a nice boost on the offensive end.
Reaves off glass!
— NBA (@NBA) May 21, 2023
14-6 Lakers run, Q2 live on ABC 🍿#NBAConferenceFinals presented by @GooglePixel_US pic.twitter.com/zLYEBFGW9V
9:20 p.m. ET — And now Nikola Jokic has two fouls. There are still nine minutes left in the first half. How will each coach handle early foul trouble?
9:15 p.m. ET — Anthony Davis picks up his second foul after knocking down Jeff Green. (Green certainly sold the contact.) Darvin Ham is leaving him on the floor.
End of first quarter: Nuggets 32, Lakers 20
9:10 p.m. ET — Jamal Murray is on fire. He racked up 17 points on 8-of-10 shooting in the first quarter.
Murray fadeaway 🥶
— NBA (@NBA) May 21, 2023
15 points in Q1 for him, DEN lead on ABC. pic.twitter.com/f7R0ShZWzp
9 p.m. ET — The Nuggets have jumped out to a double-digit lead. The Lakers are playing with no energy right now.
MPJ triple 💦
— NBA (@NBA) May 21, 2023
13 straight for Denver 💨
WCF Game 3 on ABC pic.twitter.com/HiSmbK9BI5
8:50 p.m. ET — Jamal Murray is picking up right where he left off. He already has 11 points on 5-of-5 shooting.
Jamal Murray for three 🎯
— NBA (@NBA) May 21, 2023
WCF Game 3 underway on ABC!#NBAConferenceFinals presented by @GooglePixel_US pic.twitter.com/zOTiYG1gNn
8:40 p.m. ET — LeBron James is ready to go. Game 3 is almost here...
Game on. pic.twitter.com/akDiQv8Xu4
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) May 21, 2023
8:30 p.m. ET — Mo Bamba won't play in Game 3, but ESPN's Adrian Wojarowski reports that the Lakers center could rejoin the rotation very soon.
Lakers C Mo Bamba (left ankle) is expected to be cleared for a return as soon as Game 4 or 5 of these Western Conference Finals, sources tell ESPN. Bamba, who’ll have missed nine straight games including tonight, could offer an option for some limited minutes on Nikola Jokic.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 20, 2023
8:15 p.m. ET — No surprises from Darvin Ham and Michael Malone. We've got the same starters for both teams.
Same starters as Game 2 for the Lakers: pic.twitter.com/t88Tn6Mje7
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) May 21, 2023
8:05 p.m. ET — LeBron James and Anthony Davis are rocking matching outfits ahead of Game 3. What does this mean for the Lakers? (Nothing, but they look nice!)
Business time. pic.twitter.com/fzE29ZSV2B
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) May 20, 2023
7:55 p.m. ET — DeAndre Jordan enjoys watching Nikola Jokic work on his post moves.
DeAndre Jordan hyping up Jokic in warm-ups 😂
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 20, 2023
📺: Nuggets-Lakers at 8:30 PM ET on ABC pic.twitter.com/l4rCk7Myen
What channel is Lakers vs. Nuggets on?
- Date: Saturday, May 20
- TV channel: ABC
- Live streaming: Sling TV
Lakers vs. Nuggets will air on ABC. Viewers can also stream the game on Sling TV.
Fans in the U.S. can watch the NBA Playoffs on Sling TV, which is now offering $10 off your first month! Stream the sports you love starting at just $30 in your first month with Sling Orange to catch all the games on TNT, ESPN & ABC. For games on NBA TV, subscribe to Sling Orange & Sports Extra for $27.50 in your first month. Local regional blackout restrictions apply.
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What time is Lakers vs. Nuggets tonight?
- Date: Saturday, May 20
- Time: 8:30 p.m. ET | 5:30 p.m. PT
Lakers vs. Nuggets will tip off around 8:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, May 20. The game will be played at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
Lakers vs. Nuggets odds
Los Angeles is a 5.5-point favorite heading into Game 3.
Nuggets | Lakers | |
Spread | +5.5 | -5.5 |
Moneyline | +195 | -250 |
For the full market, check out BetMGM.
Lakers vs. Nuggets schedule
Here is the complete schedule for the 2023 Western Conference Finals:
Date | Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
May 16 | Nuggets 132, Lakers 126 | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN |
May 18 | Nuggets 108, Lakers 103 | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN |
May 20 | Nuggets 119, Lakers 108 | 8:30 p.m. | ABC |
May 22 | Game 4 | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN |
May 24 | Game 5* | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN |
May 26 | Game 6* | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN |
May 28 | Game 7* | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN |
*If necessary