Jamal Murray called game at the buzzer.

Here are three takeaways from Denver’s 101-99 win Monday at Ball Arena.

1. D’Angelo Russell certainly looks like the X-factor in this series through two games. After going 6 for 20 in Game 1, Russell started Monday’s game 6 of 7 from 3-point range, surpassing his Game 1 scoring output in the second quarter. When Denver closed within nine late in the third quarter, Russell’s seventh 3 created some additional breathing room.

2. What a battle of the big men. Anthony Davis started 13 of 14 from the field and reached 30 points in the first two minutes of the third quarter. Nikola Jokic had a double-double at the end of the first quarter with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Jokic recorded a triple-double in the middle of the fourth quarter and finished with 27 points, 20 rebounds and 10 assists. Davis cooled off a bit but still finished with 32 points and 11 rebounds.

3. The free throw discrepancy wasn’t a big deal in Game 2. Nuggets coach Michael Malone said he didn’t know what his team had to do to get to the line more after the Lakers took 19 free throws to Denver’s six in Game 1. The Nuggets took way more 3-pointers than Los Angeles in Saturday’s series opener, but Denver also finished with 10 more points in the paint. It was pretty equitable in the first half Monday. Both teams were called for eight fouls in the first half and each team attempted six free throws. The Nuggets finished with 17 free throw attempts to the Lakers’ 13.

NUGGETS 101, LAKERS 99

What happened: The Nuggets overcame another slow start to take a 2-0 series lead over the Lakers.

The Nuggets fell behind by 11 in the final five minutes of the first quarter and closed within four by the start of the second. Denver closed within a point early in the second quarter but fell behind 59-44 at halftime. The Lakers led by 10 to start the fourth. Denver closed within two in the middle of the fourth and tied the game with just over a minute left. Jamal Murray’s fadeaway at the buzzer protected Denver’s home court.

What went right: Denver picked up a win before the game even started. The Nuggets won a random drawing to determine the draft order after the Nuggets and Thunder finished the regular season with identical records. Thanks to the tiebreaker, Denver will pick 28th, and Oklahoma City gets the 29th pick.

What went wrong: The Nuggets couldn’t buy a 3-pointer. After going 6 of 23 (26.1%) from deep in the first half, Denver went 1 for 7 in the third quarter, dropping the percentage below 24. The Lakers were 10 of 22 (45.5%) to start the fourth quarter. Denver finished 8-34 from 3.

Highlight of the night: LeBron James’s rejection of Jamal Murray’s dunk attempt at the rim was objectively the most impressive play of the night and gave the Lakers an early jolt of momentum. That is until Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s driving dunk over Taurean Prince in the middle of the third quarter brought Denver within 11 points.

Up next: The series shifts to Los Angeles for Thursday’s Game 3 at Crypto.com Arena.