The Denver Nuggets are headed to the NBA Finals for the first time in team history, thanks to the phenomenal play of Nikola Jokic. He scored 30 points, grabbed 14 rebounds and dished out 13 assists to lead the Nuggets to a 113-111 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals.
The Nuggets, who are the top-seeded team, also got a strong performance from Jamal Murray, who scored 25 points. The Lakers got off to a strong start with LeBron James scoring 31 points in the first half, but the Nuggets refused to go down without a fight. They rallied from a 15-point halftime deficit to clinch their historic victory.
Jokic had a record-breaking performance, marking his eighth triple-double of the playoffs by the third quarter, which broke Wilt Chamberlain’s 1967 NBA record for most triple-doubles in a single postseason. Despite picking up his fifth foul in the middle of the fourth quarter, he continued to lead the Nuggets’ defense, playing non-stop for the final 33 minutes of the game.
James finished with an incredible 40 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, but even the greatness of the top scorer in NBA history could not outdo the deep and dynamic Nuggets. The victory earned the Nuggets their first conference title in 47 seasons, and they now move on to the NBA Finals to battle the eighth-seeded Miami Heat. The Finals will begin on June 1.
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) celebrates after Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, left, missed a layup attempt as time expired in the second half of Game 4 of the NBA basketball Western Conference Final series Monday, May 22, 2023, in Los Angeles. Denver won 113-111 to win the series.
Despite the Lakers’ valiant efforts, they were swept in a playoff series for the 11th time in team history, including nine best-of-seven series. Their loss ended their incredible turnaround after starting the season with a 2-10 record under new coach Darvin Ham. Following strong play for two months, boosted by roster changes at the trade deadline, the Lakers then knocked off second-seeded Memphis and eliminated defending champion Golden State to raise hopes of an unlikely championship run.
Lakers’ coach, Darvin Ham, had nothing but love and respect for the Denver Nuggets team, but also saw that the Lakers had an opportunity to do something special and hopefully build off this experience.
Overall, the Nuggets played remarkably well and earned their spot in the NBA Finals. They have an outstanding chance to win their very first NBA championship and make history for the team and the city of Denver.