Nuggets book team’s FIRST finals berth by clinching sweep of Lakers: Jokic has another triple-double
Nuggets records team’s FIRST finals spot by completing Lakers sweep: Nikola Jokic has another triple-double in 113-111 Game 4 win as LA squanders LeBron James’ 40-point effort
The Lakers’ unexpected postseason run came to a halt Tuesday night as the Nuggets beat LA on their home court 113-111 to send off the 2020 champions and advance to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history.
The Lakers led by 15 at halftime, but only scored 38 points in the second half as a virtuoso 40-point performance by LeBron James was wasted.
After a huge third quarter that saw Denver beat the Lakers by 20, the visitors led by six with less than three minutes to play in LA, but James and Co.
However, Nikola Jokic would help Denver regain a 113–111 lead by getting a layup with 51.1 seconds left, and Aaron Gordon blocked James at the buzzer to secure the historic win.
Jokic finished the game with 30 points, 14 rebounds and 13 assists as Denver completed a sweep of their opponents.
Nikola Jokic had another triple-double as he was named the MVP of the Western Conference Finals
Aaron Gordon delivered one final block on LeBron James to clinch the Lakers victory
Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone celebrates with the Western Conference Trophy
Jamal Murray also added 25 points for the newly minted Western Conference champions, while Aaron Gordon had 22.
Michael Porter Jr. and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope had 15 and 13 respectively with each starter scoring in double digits.
Jokic was named MVP of the Western Conference Finals after the game.
“It’s really a collective effort,” Jokic said on ESPN after the game. “We’re growing as a team and a franchise.”
“We can do anything together,” said Murray, who missed the entire season last season with an ACL injury.
“Once we start getting divorced, that’s when we struggle.”
Denver’s Finals performance comes after top-three regular season finishes in four of the past five years, including a 53-29 score this year, the best in the Western Conference.
LeBron James’ effort of 40 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists wasn’t enough for the Lakers
This marks the first time the Nuggets have made it to the NBA Finals as a franchise
For the Lakers, Tuesday marked a bitter end to a whirlwind season in which they barely made the playoffs but finished as one of the NBA’s final four teams.
LA completely remade its roster at trade deadline, parting ways with Russell Westbrook and adding D’Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura and Jarred Vanderbilt.
Austin Reaves also cemented himself as one of the team’s top scoring options as the season progressed.
“I just thanked them all,” LA coach Darvin Ham said after the game. It was great, the competitive spirit.’
“Dig ourselves out of a deep deep hole… it’s been a great year.”