The Nuggets crushed the Lakers, 113-111, advancing to the first NBA Finals in franchise history
There has never been a player like Nikola Jokic. So it’s only fitting that he takes his team to the edge of the Promised Land in a series of performances like nothing we’ve ever seen.
Jokic is the star, as of course he is, and his Denver Nuggets are heading to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history after sweeping the Lakers in dominant fashion. The two-time MVP dropped another triple-double in the win, finishing with 30 points, 14 rebounds and 13 assists. It marked his eighth triple-double of the postseason, a new postseason record.
Despite the clear dominant sweep, Denver’s Game 4 win was anything but a cakewalk. The Lakers led by 15 halftime points after scoring 73 in the first half, and it took a third-quarter performance to age from the Nuggets to even make this game. The Nuggets outscored the Lakers 36-16 in the third quarter to take a five-point lead going into the fourth, and looked to be in control of their destiny going forward.
But the Lakers squeezed out of the seven-point hole and tied the game with five minutes remaining. Given their dominance in the first half, preventing elimination for one more day is not out of the question. Until…
The Lakers kept the distance with less than two minutes to play, but LeBron James made a wrong jumper with 26 seconds left and the Nuggets led by two. Jamal Murray missed his own jumper, giving LA one last chance to send the game into overtime, but LeBron was met with drives by Murray and Aaron Gordon, who forced a hard effort before the bell rang.
LeBron finished with 40 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists; he had a career-highest scoring half of the postseason (31 points). Anthony Davis (21 points, 14 rebounds), Austin Reaves (17 points), Dennis Schroder (13), and Rui Hachimura (10) all finished with double-figures, but it wasn’t enough to keep the Lakers alive for one more. day. The result was the 11th sweep in franchise history.
As for the Nuggets, Jokic is not alone in his endeavors. Jamal Murray has excelled in his offensive lead this series scoring 25 points at capper, while Aaron Gordon (22 points), Michael Porter Jr. to lead Denver to victory.
Denver will meet either the Miami Heat or the Boston Celtics in… who are we kidding, it will be the Heat. They lead 3-0, and the Celtics look like a junior varsity team right now. The finals end on June 1.