LOS ANGELES - Nikola Jokic was far from his usual dominant when he was in foul trouble and Jamal Murray calmed down after a scorching first half. The Denver Nuggets' massive early lead was completely wiped out in the fourth quarter of Game Three, leaving the Lakers home fans in a frenzy. The Nuggets overcame any setbacks and took control in a calm and methodical manner with a champion stance. With one more victory, they will finally have the chance to play for their first ring. See the Nuggets approach the NBA Finals with Game Three win for the Lakers Murray added 37 points, Jokic added 24 points and eight assists as the Nuggets beat Los Angeles 119-108 on Saturday night to take a 3-0 lead in the Western Conference finals. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 12 of 17 points in the second half against his former team for the top-ranked Nuggets, who have never come this close to the NBA Finals in 47 years in the league. Denver is in its fifth straight playoff game and the final stage is now just one win away. “I learn a lot about this team every time we play,” Caldwell-Pope said. "We have a dog mentality that we're going to keep fighting and playing our game and doing it at a high level whether we're up or down. We're going to continue to do that for the rest of these games." Denver secured a 14-point win in Game Three, but had a solid 13-0 run in the fourth quarter, making the Lakers nine-game home wins since March 26, including seven wins since the end of the regular season. broke the series. ADVERTISING - CONTINUE READING DOWN ↓ "This group has the ability to do great things and they believe in it," said Denver coach Michael Malone. "Faith is a very powerful thing." No team in NBA history has recovered from a 3-0 playoff series deficit. Game Four is Monday night in Los Angeles. "They're going to do everything they can to come back and fight at home," Murray said. "We know it's coming and we just have to stay locked in and know we can." PHOTO AP Anthony Davis had 28 points and 18 rebounds for the seventh-placed Lakers who hadn't lost three games in a row since the start of February. Los Angeles' long, desperate rise since the trade deadline has finally worn out against the mighty Nuggets, who won five playoff games in a row. "There's a reason they're at the top of the food chain and they have a lot of guys that can hurt you like tonight," said Lakers coach Darvin Ham. "But you know, whatever the circumstances are. It's hard but not impossible." Watch now LeBron James finished with 23 points, 12 assists and 7 rebounds for Los Angeles and hit three 3-pointers after starting the series from 13 points away. Austin Reaves added 23 points and 7 rebounds, but Rui Hachimura was the only other Lakers to reach 13 points in double digits. “We've probably had our backs against the wall for the last two months, maybe more than that since the last trade date,” Reaves said. "To swing, to punch, to fight for this opportunity. ... we can go out on Monday and go home, or we can fight for another day. And with a bunch of guys we have, I know what that is. will be the answer." Jokic's four consecutive triple-double streaks ended in a rather calm game for the two-time MVP who took his fourth foul in the third quarter. However, Murray scored 17 points in a dynamic first quarter after his 23-point fourth quarter two nights ago and hit 30 points at halftime of Game 3. Bruce Brown scored 15 points and scored a crucial 3-pointer for the Nuggets. Passionate fans of the Lakers took the field for the 17-time champion franchise's first home conference finals since 2010. Los Angeles struggled desperately to return to the series, and James played for 43 minutes after spraining his left ankle in Game 2. on your already sore right foot. ADVERTISING - CONTINUE READING DOWN ↓ But the Nuggets' flight to the beach didn't calm Murray one iota After firing the Lakers to close Game Two, the Canadian guard fired his first five shots in Game Three and scored 17 points in the first quarter – while Jokic even went scoreless in the second quarter. SEE ALSO SEE ALSO Murray's fourth 3-pointer of the night put up 26 points in the middle of the second quarter, 13 points 11 from the field, and scored more than half of Denver's points at incredible speed. Reaves and Davis protected the Lakers with 15 points, 3 assists and 3 rebounds in the second quarter alone. Hachimura's 3-pointer early in the fourth quarter gave the Lakers their first win since opening minutes, but with 702 left in the game, the Nuggets regained control in a rally featured by Brown's 3-pointer, and then the Lakers took the bench to Los Angeles. Angeles' own "Freeze" 3-point celebration. D'Angelo Russell played another tough game for the Lakers, scoring three points from 8 to 1 in 20 minutes. Russell was the Lakers' biggest contributor in the trade time conversion, but the quarterback has just 21 points in this three-game series. Gotopnews.com