How Jokic’s nuggets beat LeBron James’s Lakers
NBA Analytics NetworkMonday night at the Crypto.com Arena, two-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic recorded another triple…
Monday night at the Crypto.com Arena, two-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic recorded another triple-double with 30 points, 14 rebounds and 13 assists. Western Conference Finals series.
Jokic and the Nuggets reached their first-ever NBA Finals despite LeBron James trying to delay the Lakers’ inevitable playoff exit, which included setting a new points-in-a-half record with 31 before halftime. James finished with 40 points, 10 rebounds and 9 assists after 48 minutes.
“You know, that first half was vintage LeBron James,” said Nuggets coach Mike Malone. “In that first half he showed why he is one of the best players of all time, he literally put his team on his back and just went at us. Challenged our guys at half time to be the more physical team, to becoming the more aggressive team and not playing on our heels anymore, I felt the third quarter saved us.”
NBA NEWS & PLAYOFFS: Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
For the Nuggets, this NBA Finals berth has been a long time coming. It has taken Denver 46 seasons to reach this point, the most seasons for a Finals appearance in NBA history. Denver had 93 playoff wins on Monday night, the most ever without a Finals berth.
“It’s unbelievable,” said Nuggets security guard Jamal Murray. “It’s a lot of fun. It’s surreal. We keep making history, that’s what it’s all about. We keep that mentality.”
A record nine triple-doubles in a postseason was set by Jokic in the third quarter, one more than Wilt Chamberlain set in 1967. In addition to leading the Nuggets’ gritty defensive effort, he fouled his fifth midway through the fourth quarter. .
NBA NEWS & PLAYOFFS: Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
In Game 4, Jokic played the entire last 33 minutes, delivering big baskets when Denver needed them. With 51 seconds left, he attacked Anthony Davis from the dribble to get to the rim and scored the final points of the game.
“I think that’s why playoffs are so fun and interesting, because you don’t care how tired you are,” said Jokic. “You don’t care about minutes, fouls, shots, percentage. You just want to win a game. Some plays today we sometimes didn’t play well defensively, (but) you can win it any way you want.”
There was a sense of desperation in the Lakers when they were eliminated. They enacted a lineup change by sitting D’Angelo Russell, but despite that move, the Lakers got a strong level of scoring production from the rest of the interim lineup, giving them a 73–58 lead at halftime. It didn’t take long for Los Angeles.
NBA NEWS & PLAYOFFS: Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
The Nuggets took the lead at 4:39 in the third quarter when Jokic connected with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope for a layup. During the game, Jokic landed his 10th assist, confirming another triple-double.
“I think we understood what was at stake,” said Malone. “You don’t want to give a team like that away [any chance]. That’s LeBron James right there. The way we came out in the third quarter showed me that we have a maturity about us and an understanding of how to play at this stage.
NBA NEWS & PLAYOFFS: Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
After going on a 34–14 run, the Nuggets led by five going into the fourth. After James scored to reach 40 points, Jokic answered with a fadeaway 3 on the shot clock buzzer with 2:50 left to play. With 51 seconds to play, Jokic broke the tie with a driving layup. Murray missed a shot into the paint on the ensuing possession after James missed a fadeaway 3. Aaron Gordon blocked James’ final attempt to send the Nuggets to the NBA Finals.
“If that game went to the end and the ball was in the hands of LeBron James, those seconds would be an eternity,” said Malone. “When the buzzer went off, it was almost unreal for a moment. I couldn’t be more proud of this group.”
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