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Anthony Davis scored a game-high 31 points on Sunday and drilled the game-winning shot as time expired to send the Los Angeles Lakers to a 105-103 victory and a 2-0 series lead over the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals.
LeBron James scored 26 points and 11 rebounds to help lead the Lakers, who led by as many as 16 points in the win. The Nuggets managed to come back and briefly take the lead early in the fourth quarter and were eventually up by 1 one point late until Davis’ game-winning shot.
Nikola Jokic scored 11 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Nuggets while Jamal Murray had 25 points. Michael Porter Jr. led the Nuggets’ efforts off the bench with 15 points but did not play over the final nine minutes of the fourth quarter.
Nuggets head coach Michael Malone subbed P.J. Dozier into the game at the 8:57 mark when Porter picked up his fifth foul. Dozier injected energy into the lineup and provided sound defense but only scored three points and missed four late free throws.
Malone said afterward he thought Dozier played great and gave the team a bigger defender down the stretch in the fourth quarter. The decision to play Dozier also likely stemmed from Porter’s foul trouble but it did not sit well with Nuggets fans on social media.
Michael Porter Jr. on the bench…he’s the 3rd leading scoring playing limited minutes. The Nuggets needs to rethink strategy
— DVRXVS RVSHVVD CPLVND (@WhoIsDVRXVS) September 21, 2020
Dozier missed free throws were huge in a close game like this… Michael Porter Jr. on the bench during clutch minutes 🙃
— Antonio Burnett II 🙏🏾 💍🏀 (@StillNotWorried) September 21, 2020
The Coach for @nuggets needs too keep Michael Porter Jr. In the Fourth Quarter within this series
— IT's Ur-Boy Q (@QuincyMarsh) September 21, 2020
Denver coach fried for not putting Michael Porter Jr in
— LLK💙 (@5STARBOY_) September 21, 2020
Mike Malone, why tf is Michael Porter Jr not in the game in the last 3 minutes!?!?!???
— Francis (Franchise) (@__Franchise) September 21, 2020
Dozier was good, But Michael Porter Jr. Should have been in that fourth quarter https://t.co/6kLNvT7dv0
— IT's Ur-Boy Q (@QuincyMarsh) September 21, 2020
Where's Michael Porter Jr? When's Malone going to learn? Worst coach still in the playoffs. They're down only one now, but would be up with him in. #NBAPlayoffs #DenverNuggets
— Darrell Horwitz (@DarrellHorwitz) September 21, 2020
Wtf Michael Porter Jr not in the game
— Joey Fresh (@joeyfresh720) September 21, 2020
How is PJ Dozier getting minutes over Michael Porter Jr? #NBAPlayoffs
— Kuria (@Kuria__Maina) September 21, 2020
PJ Doizer a bum why the hell isn’t Michael Porter Jr in
— pussy (@thatfentydrip) September 21, 2020
Michael Malone is sticking it to Michael Porter Jr. by playing PJ Dozier over him despite missing 4 crucial free throws. 🤔
— Masood (@soodanym) September 21, 2020
I’m glad mike Malone left Michael porter Jr on the bench for PJ dozier with his 3 pts and 4 missed free throws
— Mamba Mentality #Kobe (@TheGoodGuyRob) September 21, 2020
The nuggets don’t deserve Michael Porter Jr
— pussy (@thatfentydrip) September 21, 2020
Dozier being in there and not Michael Porter Jr. just to have a fighting chance on offense in crunch time is brutal by the Nuggets
— Scott Polacek (@ScottPolacek) September 21, 2020
Playing PJ Dozier over Michael Porter Jr is criminal
— ᗩᑎT ᗯᖇIGᕼT (@itsAntWright) September 21, 2020
Dozier is great, but Michael Porter, Jr HAS TO BE IN at crunch time to space the floor for Denver
— Lawrence "Puff" Summers (@WhyNotMeHoops) September 21, 2020
Why isn’t Michael Porter Jr in the game? pic.twitter.com/zOHj0jcIaw
— Angel (@Ja_Huuuurd_Me) September 21, 2020
Michael porter Jr looking like coach I can hit free throws…
— Joli (@PrettyGoodWin) September 21, 2020
Why is Michael Porter Jr. not in the basketball game.
— More~Life~Of~5 (@tb_skywalker05) September 21, 2020
Game 3 is set to tip-off Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET on TNT.
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