Final: DEN, 114—LAL, 106

The Denver Nuggets survived the Los Angeles Lakers' fourth quarter run to pick their first win of the best of-seven series of the Western Conference Finals of the NBA. Jamal Murray shines in that win with a near triple-double performance. He got 28 points, 12 assists and 8 rebounds. It was his clutch threes and shot that stopped the Lakers' late 4th quarter surge that eventually sealed their first-ever win for Nuggets. Nikola Jokic had also a double-double performance with 22 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists. It was also a night for the 6'8 wing forward Jerami Grant as he got his career playoff high, tallied 26 points in total. He   stepped up in just the right time as his team needed such performance aside from their two stars.

On the other hand, the Lakers was led by LeBron James with a triple-double, tallied 30 points, grabbed 10 rebound and dished 12 assists. It was his 16th career playoff triple-double, a feat only behind by Magic Johnson. Anthony Davis added 27 points and 2 rebounds(his second lowest total in the entire season) and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope added 12 points in their loss to Nuggets.

The much-needed help.

The Denver Nuggets wingman started the playoff with a performance considered a slump, especially in the offensive end of the game. But Grant is still a defensive energy for the team but tonight, he is different. He stepped up big time in the offense and boosted his team with 26 career playoff high points. He usually averaging 8.8 points per game.

Less energy from AD

The guy behind Lakers' win of game 2 had his second lowest total in rebounds in the entire season. He only grabbed 2 rebounds for the whole game. He even don't have his usual defensive might by blocking shots. It's an obvious indication that he had lost his energy from his previous heroic effort in game 2.

Other notables.

Rajon Rondo's masterful thievery helped the Lakers recover after trailed by as much as 20 points. The Lakers' veteran guard managed to steal three times in just a matter of minutes only to be thwarted by Murray's hot hands.

Rondo finished with nine points in a 4-10 FG, eight dimes, three steals and two rebounds in 30 minutes during Tuesday's 114-106 loss to Denver.

Both teams will head to the Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals with a resolve to win. It's either the Nuggets will ride the momentum and even the series or the Lakers will have to regain it's composure and walk away with a win.

It's a 2—1 series, LAL leads.

Lead Photo courtesy to the NBA.com