After 47 years, the Denver Nuggets have made it to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history. The team achieved this by sweeping the Los Angeles Lakers with a 113-111 victory in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals in 2023.
The Nuggets clawed their way back after trailing by 15 points in the first half. They rallied for 36 points in the third quarter and a total of 55 points in the second half to secure their spot in the championship round of the West.
Nikola Jokic, who won the Magic Johnson Western Conference Finals MVP award, scored a triple-double, with 34 points, 14 rebounds, and 13 assists, and sealed the deal with a clutch layup with just 51.7 seconds remaining, giving the Nuggets a two-point lead.
Jamal Murray added 25 points, Aaron Gordon contributed 22 points with his excellent defensive play, and Michael Porter Jr. scored 15 points. Despite LeBron James’s incredible 40-point performance, with 30 points in the first half alone, the Lakers were unable to avoid being swept in a best-of-seven series for the third time in James’s career.
Although the Nuggets had previously been denied by the Lakers in four of their previous conference finals appearances, this season, the Nuggets are the new kings of the West. According to ESPN Stats & Info, their wait to reach the NBA Finals for the first time is the third-longest in the history of the NBA, NHL, and MLB.
The Nuggets look to close out the Lakers 8:30, ET on ESPN.
The Nuggets seek their 1st NBA Finals appearance in their 47th NBA season.
The 46 seasons to reach the Finals would be the most in NBA history, and the 3rd most in NBA/NHL/MLB history, behind a pair of MLB teams. pic.twitter.com/SdFi0OH1Ga
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 22, 2023
The Nuggets have finally made it to their first NBA Finals appearance, ending their long wait as a franchise. The L.A. Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Charlotte Hornets, Minnesota Timberwolves, and the New Orleans Pelicans are now the only teams yet to appear in the NBA Finals. The Denver Nuggets are likely to face the eighth-seeded Miami Heat for their championship bout, as they lead the Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics with a commanding 3-0 series lead.
The first game of the 2023 NBA Finals is scheduled for June 1.