Jamal Murray, Nikola Jokic React As Nuggets Inch Closer to First NBA Finals Trip

• The Denver Nuggets won Game 3 119-108 against the Lakers to inch closer to their first-ever NBA Finals trip
• Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray were pivotal once again, combining for 61 points
• No team in NBA history has ever overcome a 3-0 deficit

The Denver Nuggets stunned the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals to take a commanding 3-0 series lead.

Jamal Murray has urged his team to stay grounded as they edge even closer to their first NBA Finals appearance.

Just like in Games 1 and 2, Murray and Nikola Jokic did the damage in Game 3. Murray was on fire as hit 8 of his first 10 shots and scored 30 points in the first half. The point guard finished with 37 points.

Jokic struggled in the first three quarters but overcome his early foul trouble to score 15 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter. He added eight assists and six rebounds, meaning his triple-double streak ended.

Stephen Curry positive after Warriors' 30-point Game 3 loss to Lakers

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They also got timely contributions from their supporting cast, led by Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (17 points), Bruce Brown (15 points), and Michael Porter Jr. (14 points), per Denver Post.

Muray and Jokic react to game 3 win

Murray, who is averaging 35 points per game in this series, said they need to stay grounded since they have bigger goals.

"Just keeping everybody in the moment," Murray said. "Not letting it slip away. You need 16 wins to win a championship and we got five more to go and the Lakers are in our way and they are going to do everything in their power to come back and fight,"via ESPN.

Jokic said the series is not over with LeBron James as their opponent.

"To be honest, I'm not going to say that I'm scared, but I'm worried," Jokic said. "Because they have LeBron [James] on the other side, and he is capable of doing everything. We're going to come here with the same mindset, same focus, and I think that's going to put us in a situation to win a game."

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No team has ever overcome a 3-0 deficit in NBA postseason history, per the Athletic.

Malone blasts media for Lakers' narrative

Sports Brief earlier reported on the Nuggets coach blasting the media for focusing on the Lakers' adjustments instead of Jokic's heroics.

After Game 1, the postgame discussion was about how the Lakers switched Rui Hachimura on Jokic to allow Anthony Davis to roam the paint.

"The narrative wasn't about Nikola. … You put that in your pipe, you smoke it. And you come back, and you know what, we're gonna go up 2-0."