The first chapter of the 2023 Western Conference Finals certainly didn’t lack for thrills. But it did lack defense.
The Nuggets escaped Game 1 with a riveting 132-126 win over the Lakers on Tuesday. Still unbeaten at home in these playoffs, Denver has an opportunity to move the series to Los Angeles with a 2-0 lead Thursday (6:30 p.m. MT, ESPN) at Ball Arena.
Here are three keys to Game 2 victory:
1. Rescue Jamal Murray from LeBron Island: The Lakers must have watched the film of Aaron Gordon guarding Karl-Anthony Towns and Kevin Durant in the first two rounds, because they wanted none of that.