After losing Game 1 convincingly where they trailed by as many as 27 points, in Game 2, the Denver Nuggets were doing what they have done best for a majority of the 2020 postseason - a comeback from a double-digit deficit.
After being down by as many as 16 points in the third quarter, the Nuggets led 103-102 with 2.1 seconds remaining in regulation. On the ensuing final play, Anthony Davis sank a clutch game-winning three at the buzzer to thwart the Nuggets' comeback.
"He [AD] different, it's that simple," LeBron said to Lakers' sideline reporter Mike Trudell after the game.
MORE: 9 observations as AD ices Game 2 for LA
“I’m happy to be here with him to give him any advice or for him to lean on me," James said later in his postgame interaction with the media. "To be completely honest, in the second half, s—, I leaned on him and he brought us home.”
Davis scored 22 of his 31 game-high points in the second half and then capped that off by scoring the Lakers' final 10 points including the game-winner. That game-winner made AD the seventh Laker in franchise history to have knocked down a buzzer-beating game-winner in the playoffs.
“That was Mamba right there. Mamba Mentality," head coach Frank Vogel said postgame to the team in the lockerroom.
MORE: NBA world in awe of AD's game-winner
"That’s a shot Kobe Bryant would hit," he went on to elaborate later with the media.
"AD flying to the wing like that, catch and shoot with the game on the line, the biggest moment of the season, nothing but net? That’s a Mamba shot."
"That's a shot Kobe Bryant would hit."
— NBA TV (@NBATV) September 21, 2020
Frank Vogel reacts to Anthony Davis' huge game-winner. pic.twitter.com/iRBxXDZrjX
AD's 31 comes after he had scored a game-high 37 in Game 1."He’s arguably the best scorer in our game," Rajon Rondo said postgame, as per Washington Post's Ben Golliver. A couple other teammates chimed-in on Twitter:
Yeah he like dat!!!! @AntDavis23
— Quinn Cook (@QCook323) September 21, 2020
AD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
— Jared Dudley (@JaredDudley619) September 21, 2020
"It’s for sure the biggest shot of my career," Anthony Davis said postgame after he became the first Laker to knock down a buzzer-beater in the Conference Finals since Robert Horry against the Sacramento Kings in 2002. It's the third game-winning shot of the 2020 playoffs.
Later, Davis transitioned to talking about the late Kobe Bryant.
"He hit countless shots like that." - @AntDavis23, on Kobe.
— NBA (@NBA) September 21, 2020
NBA Playoffs Press Conferences Presented by #ATT pic.twitter.com/JLqgxy6gUS
With this win, the Lakers remained unbeaten in the black 'Mamba' jerseys, improving to 3-0.
Can the Lakers race to a 3-0 series lead with a Game 3 win? We'll know when it tips-off on Tuesday, September 22nd at 9:00 p.m. ET.
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