![]() He blitzed the Nuggets for 31 points in the first half, spinning past defenders and getting to the line. James was in no mood to see his season end. So, our mindset has to be, be the more aggressive team and just overall, just-take-it mentality. Obviously, they are facing elimination, very dangerous team. “Just a mindset of going out there and taking it,” Malone said pre-game. Having coached James during his first stint in Cleveland, Malone was well aware of the challenge in front of his team. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post) The Nuggets swept the best-of-seven series 4-0 to advance to their first NBA Finals in franchise history. … We all believe in each other, and that belief in one another, for us, is a very powerful, tangible thing.” Jamal Murray (27) of the Denver Nuggets celebrates with Peyton Watson (8) and Zeke Nnaji (22) after the fourth quarter of the Nuggets’ 113-111 Western Conference finals game 4 win over the Los Angeles Lakers at Arena in Los Angeles on Monday, May 22, 2023. We traded for Aaron a few years ago for a reason and signed Bruce Brown in free agency for a reason. We got Kentavious Caldwell-Pope for a reason. And obviously Jamal has played phenomenal in this first postseason back from that ACL, but Jamal is aware of that as well. “Nikola would be the first one to admit he is not going to win a playoff game, a series or a potential championship by himself,” Malone said before the game. Improbably, the Nuggets held a 94-89 lead going into the fourth. The quarter encapsulated Denver’s depth and illuminated how the Nuggets are far more than just an offensive juggernaut.īy the time the quarter was over, Denver had outscored the Lakers 36-16 to stun the home crowd. Helpless during the spurt, Lakers coach Darvin Ham could only put his hands to his face. attacked the hoop and Aaron Gordon stepped confidently into his 3-point looks. Murray sank a devastating jumper from the elbow, Michael Porter Jr. The two-time MVP poured in 13 points in the quarter, but he wasn’t alone. Eventually, Jokic converted a layup at the other end. In one telling sequence, Jokic swatted a shot by Anthony Davis at the rim to kickstart one of many breaks in the other direction. ![]() Their defense swarmed, and their transition game ignited the offense. The Nuggets stormed back to take the lead in the third quarter. Before Monday night, they’d been 0-7.īehind James, Los Angeles took a 73-58 halftime lead. For the first time in the Nuggets’ history, they ousted the Lakers in the postseason. James managed 40 points but his help wasn’t there. Murray finished with 25 points, while Gordon registered 22. Jokic, named the Western Conference Finals MVP, finished with a 30-point, 14-rebound, 13-assist triple-double, setting an NBA record with his eighth in the postseason. “We got four more wins to go,” Murray said. Game over, and Denver’s reserves stormed the court. At the same time, Aaron Gordon soared over and blocked the ball. Their victory punched Denver’s first-ever trip to the NBA Finals by virtue of its first-ever playoff sweep in franchise history.Īs James drove to the hoop in the final seconds, Jamal Murray got his hands on the ball in an attempt to thwart James. Not four minutes later, in front of championship banners that Denver had only been allowed to dream about, the Nuggets seized the Western Conference crown over LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers, 113-111. Late in the fourth quarter of Monday’s gripping Game 4, after one of Jokic’s sublime dimes found Aaron Gordon for a dunk, Jokic screamed at the history he and the Nuggets were approaching. ![]() LOS ANGELES - Nikola Jokic stood near halfcourt and unleashed a roar that had been years in the making. ![]()
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