Denver Nuggets Overcome 15-Point Deficit to Complete Historic Sweep of Los Angeles Lakers, Advance to NBA Finals for First Time
In their recent game, the Los Angeles Lakers lost to the Denver Nuggets with a score of 113-111, resulting in the Nuggets sweeping the series 4-0​1​. The Nuggets rallied from a 15-point halftime deficit to secure the victory and advance to the NBA Finals for the first time in their 47-year history​2​.
Nikola Jokic, the center for the Nuggets, scored 30 points and contributed 14 rebounds and 13 assists. This marked his eighth triple-double this postseason, putting him ahead of Wilt Chamberlain for the most all-time in a single playoff run. Jokic also scored the go-ahead basket with under a minute left in the game, which ultimately sealed the win for the Nuggets​3​.
On the Lakers’ side, LeBron James scored 40 points, secured 10 rebounds, and made nine assists. Despite his impressive performance, the Lakers were unable to overcome the Nuggets. James, who scored 21 points in the first quarter, had his layup attempt blocked by Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon as time expired on the final possession of game​ 4​.
Regarding team statistics, the Nuggets had a slightly higher field goal percentage (48.2%) than the Lakers (46.5%). However, the Lakers had a higher three-point percentage (40.0%) than the Nuggets (36.4%). The Nuggets had more turnovers (11) than the Lakers (6) and also slightly outrebounded the Lakers (40 to 38)​.
Adding more details, LeBron James had a notable performance in the first quarter, scoring 21 of the Lakers’ 34 points, highlighting his exceptional game despite the overall loss. His impressive performance included an overhanded lob pass intended for Hachimura that went straight in for an unlikely three. Furthermore, James’ connection with Thompson was evident as the latter delivered quality minutes, throwing down a transition slam after a nice dish from James, extending the Lakers’ lead to 43-33 during the game. This was significant as Tristan Thompson, a veteran center, had been signed by LA towards the end of the regular season as a depth option and was trusted by the coach in this important game​39​​40​​41​​44​.
The game also saw some interesting moves from the Lakers’ camp, with Rui Hachimura starting for the first time this postseason, replacing forward Jarred Vanderbilt in the starting five. Hachimura and Dennis Schroder both started in Game 4​49​​50​.
The Nuggets’ usual starting five included Jamal Murray, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Michael Porter Jr., Aaron Gordon, and two-time MVP Nikola Jokic​48​. Their performance was remarkable, with Aaron Gordon playing a crucial role by blocking James’s layup attempt as time expired on the game’s final possession, securing the Nuggets’ victory​ 3​.
Despite the Lakers’ strong start and LeBron James’ remarkable performance, the Denver Nuggets managed to rally back from a significant deficit to secure a historic victory. This game demonstrated the resilience and strength of the Nuggets, leading them to the NBA Finals for the first time in their history.
Sources:
www.espn.in
www.cnn.com