SUMMARY
- The Los Angeles Lakers lost 99-101 to the Denver Nuggets in Game 2.
- After the game, Nikola Jokic's brother Strahinja took a swing at a fan during an altercation.
The Denver Nuggets beat the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 2, thanks to a phenomenal buzzer-beater from Jamal Murray. The guard has witnessed an impressive rise with the Colorado-based franchise, especially after the ACL injury in 2021, which led him to miss 18 months. Murray has also formed a formidable duo with Nikola Jokic, and it must be mentioned that they are arguably the best pair in the league right now.
The Nuggets made a sensational comeback after being down by 20 points, and that must be appreciated despite the questions raised by Lakers players about the refereeing. This was not all that happened at the game, as a recent video of Jokic’s brother Strahinja has emerged.
Mayhem! Nikola Jokic’s brother Strahinja punched a fan moments after the Nuggets’ comeback win vs. the Lakers 😬#NBAPlayoffs #NBA pic.twitter.com/H9nON5I8LM
— Sportsmanor (@sports_manor) April 23, 2024
A fan caught Strahinja taking a swing at an NBA fan after the final buzzer as an altercation between the two went horribly wrong. Even after the punch, the commotion didn’t end there. Nemanja, Jokic’s other older brother, went to back Strahinja when the pair were conversing with the fan.
The NBA is investigating the altercation between Nikola Jokic’s brother Strahinja Jokic and a fan during last night’s game, per @mikejbabcock pic.twitter.com/PwMIzyFHwC
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) April 23, 2024
It is not known what prompted the reaction from the Serbian, but we expect that news reports could be available very soon, especially since the NBA has started to investigate the incident. Jokic’s brother risks a ban from the arena, as we have seen with many NBA fans and spectators.
Nikola Jokic has yet another impressive game vs the LA Lakers
The Joker has proven to be quite the nightmare for LeBron James and Co. He has been haunting the 17x NBA champs recently, and the way he steps up on the big stages deserves praise. In Game 1, the Serbian put up 32 points, 12 rebounds, and 7 assists. In the second game, as if it were so easy, Jokic put up yet another impressive triple-double. He has been doing it so often that it goes unnoticed nowadays.
Poetry in motion.
(Via @NBA) #NikolaJokic #Lakers #Nuggets #NBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/5yZcasTQcH
— Sportsmanor (@sports_manor) April 23, 2024
He made 27 points, 20 rebounds, and 10 assists, and it came when the Nuggets needed it the most. The defending champs were down by 20, and they needed moments of magic from their players, and that’s what they got. Jokic’s stat line from Game 2 means that he has now tied Wilt Chamberlain’s record, for his fourth game making at least 20 points, 20 rebounds, and 10 assists.
Nikola Jokic heaps praise on Jamal Murray after impressive game-winner
In the very last play, Murray went for a drive toward the Lakers’ paint despite having the option to go for a stepback three. But considering that it was against the mighty Anthony Davis, it makes sense.
The Nuggets star then went for a jumper all of a sudden, when it seemed like he was going to drive to the rim and attempt to earn a foul for the Nuggets. He got AD off guard and the Lakers watched Game 2 slip away from their hands.
Nikola Jokić on Jamal Murray: “he just needs a little bit to get hot.” pic.twitter.com/IHKsFYe6Pt
— Katy Winge (@katywinge) April 23, 2024
For those who don’t know, Murray struggled to gain momentum the entire night. He had only 9 points at the end of the third quarter, but the guard finished with 20 at the end of the game. That speaks at length about his ability to pick up the pace when needed. After the game, Jokic said, “He just needs a little bit to get hot.”
He didn’t sound too surprised or ecstatic about Murray’s winner, and that could indicate the trust that Joker has placed in Murray to get back on track. The Nuggets look like the favorites for this series with a 2-0 lead, but the Lakers surely have enough firepower to make a comeback.