Jokic leads Denver Nuggets past LeBron's Lakers 113-111, into their first NBA Finals
LOS ANGELES (AP) Nikola Jokic is a player unlike almost anything the NBA has ever seen, and now he's taking his Denver Nuggets somewhere they've never been.
Jokic had 30 points, 14 rebounds and 13 assists, and the Nuggets advanced to the NBA Finals for the first time in team history Monday night, sweeping the Western Conference finals with a 113-111 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.
Jamal Murray scored 25 points for the top-seeded Nuggets, who overcame LeBron James’ 31-point first half and a 15-point halftime deficit with a tenacious finish in Game 4 to earn their first conference title in their 47 NBA seasons.
“It’s incredible,” Murray said. “It’s a lot of fun. It’s surreal. We’re going to keep making history, that’s the thing. We’re going to keep that mindset.”
Jokic earned his eighth triple-double of the playoffs by the third quarter, breaking Wilt Chamberlain’s 1967 NBA record for triple-doubles in a single postseason. The bulky Serbian center with a point guard's grace also led the Nuggets’ gritty defensive effort despite picking up his fifth foul midway through the fourth quarter.
Jokic didn't leave the floor for the final 33 minutes of Game 4 - and when Denver needed a big basket, Jokic delivered that as well. He muscled past Anthony Davis for the game's final points on a layup with 51 seconds to play.
“I think that’s why playoffs are so nice and so interesting, because you don’t care about how tired you are,” Jokic said. “You don’t care about minutes, fouls, shots, percentage. You just want to win a game. Some plays today we weren’t playing good defense sometimes, (but) you can win it in every kind of possible way.”
James finished with 40 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists after the highest-scoring postseason half of his career, but even the top scorer in NBA history couldn’t keep the deep, dynamic Nuggets from their sixth consecutive victory overall.
James missed two tying shots in the final seconds, with Aaron Gordon getting official credit for blocking his tying try at the buzzer.
The Nuggets will cap their superb season by playing for their first NBA championship. Denver both eliminated the Lakers for the first time in eight playoff meetings and swept a playoff series for the first time, likely earning several days off before the finals.
Unless the Boston Celtics make basketball history by rallying from their 3-0 deficit in the East finals, Denver will host the eighth-seeded Miami Heat to open the NBA Finals, beginning June 1.
“Me and AD were just talking in the locker room (and) we came to the consensus this is one of the best teams, if not the best team, we’ve played together for all four years,” James said of the Nuggets. “Just well-orchestrated, well put together. They have scoring. They have shooting. They have playmaking. They have smarts. They have length. They have depth. And one thing about their team, when you have a guy like Jokic, who as big as he is but also as cerebral as he is, you can’t really make many mistakes versus a guy like that.”
The Lakers erased a seven-point deficit and tied it with five minutes to play, but Jokic hit a 25-foot fallaway 3-pointer - the kind of ridiculously impressive shot for a big man that Jokic makes routinely. After Davis hit two free throws to tie it with 1:13 left, Jokic put the Nuggets ahead again.
James then badly missed a strange fallaway jumper with 26 seconds left. Murray missed a turnaround to give the Lakers one last chance, but James' drive at the buzzer was thwarted by Murray and Gordon, who scored 22 points.
“For that game to go down to the wire and for the ball to be in LeBron James’ hands, those seconds were an eternity,” Denver coach Michael Malone said. “When the buzzer went off, it was almost surreal for a second. Couldn’t be more proud of this group.”
James scored 21 points in the first quarter and worked desperately to keep the Lakers competitive in the final game of his 20th NBA season. But the Lakers couldn’t even force a Game 5, with an apparently exhausted Davis scoring 10 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter and adding 14 rebounds.
Austin Reaves scored 17 points for the Lakers, who were swept in a playoff series for the 11th time in team history, including nine best-of-seven series.
The loss ended seventh-seeded Los Angeles’ incredible turnaround after starting the season 2-10 under new coach Darvin Ham. After bolstering their roster at the trade deadline and surging into the postseason with two months of strong play, the Lakers then knocked off second-seeded Memphis and eliminated defending champion Golden State to stir their worldwide fans’ hopes for one of the most unlikely championship runs in NBA history.
“Nothing but love and respect for the Denver Nuggets,” Ham said. “Love the way they play and what they are about. We also saw ways that ... I think we have an opportunity to do something special here, also, and we’ve just got to build off of this.”
Facing elimination for the first time in their remarkable playoff run, the Lakers took a 73-58 halftime lead. After tying his playoff career high for points in a quarter in his record 282nd postseason game, James matched his career high for points in any first half - but the Nuggets responded with a 36-16 third quarter.
TIP-INS
Nuggets: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope converted a four-point play in the first quarter. He finished with 13 points. ... The Nuggets have yet to trail in any series, and they’re 8-0 at home in the playoffs – 10-0 since March. Denver is 12-3 overall in the postseason.
Lakers: James got an accidental 3-pointer in the first half when his lob pass to Rui Hachimura went in the basket. ... Ham shook up his starting lineup, replacing struggling D’Angelo Russell and Jarred Vanderbilt with Dennis Schröder and Hachimura. The moves immediately worked, with the two new starters combining for 19 points in the first half. ...Kyrie Irving watched the game from courtside. The star free-agent guard has been linked to a reunion with James on the Lakers next season. Other fans at courtside included Vin Diesel, Adam Sandler and Aaron Donald.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Nikola Jokic vs. Anthony Davis (Dennis Schroder gains possession) | |||
11:40 | Austin Reaves misses three point jump shot | |||
11:38 | Michael Porter Jr. defensive rebound | |||
11:30 | Michael Porter Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
11:28 | Anthony Davis defensive rebound | |||
11:16 | +2 | Anthony Davis makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 0-2 | |
10:58 | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope misses three point jump shot | |||
10:56 | Anthony Davis defensive rebound | |||
10:44 | LeBron James misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | |||
10:42 | Michael Porter Jr. defensive rebound | |||
10:33 | Aaron Gordon misses three point jump shot | |||
10:30 | Anthony Davis defensive rebound | |||
10:24 | Michael Porter Jr. blocks Rui Hachimura's two point turnaround hook shot | |||
10:24 | Lakers offensive rebound | |||
10:15 | Austin Reaves misses two point jump shot | |||
10:13 | Jamal Murray defensive rebound | |||
10:02 | +2 | Aaron Gordon makes two point jump shot (Nikola Jokic assists) | 2-2 | |
9:45 | +3 | Dennis Schroder makes three point jump shot (LeBron James assists) | 2-5 | |
9:30 | Michael Porter Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
9:28 | Anthony Davis defensive rebound | |||
9:26 | Michael Porter Jr. shooting foul (LeBron James draws the foul) | |||
9:26 | +1 | LeBron James makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 2-6 | |
9:26 | +1 | LeBron James makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 2-7 | |
9:10 | +2 | Jamal Murray makes two point driving floating jump shot (Nikola Jokic assists) | 4-7 | |
9:03 | Nikola Jokic blocks Anthony Davis's two point cutting layup | |||
9:03 | Lakers offensive rebound | |||
8:55 | +2 | Rui Hachimura makes two point driving dunk (Austin Reaves assists) | 4-9 | |
8:36 | Jamal Murray turnover (lost ball) (Dennis Schroder steals) | |||
8:33 | +2 | Austin Reaves makes two point running layup | 4-11 | |
8:33 | Nuggets 60 second timeout | |||
8:14 | Michael Porter Jr. misses two point driving layup | |||
8:10 | Michael Porter Jr. offensive rebound | |||
8:09 | Jamal Murray misses three point jump shot | |||
8:07 | Anthony Davis defensive rebound | |||
8:00 | LeBron James turnover (bad pass) (Jamal Murray steals) | |||
7:56 | Dennis Schroder personal foul (Jamal Murray draws the foul) | |||
7:46 | +3 | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope makes three point jump shot (Nikola Jokic assists) | 7-11 | |
7:25 | +2 | LeBron James makes two point driving reverse layup | 7-13 | |
7:16 | +3 | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope makes three point jump shot (Nikola Jokic assists) | 10-13 | |
7:16 | Austin Reaves shooting foul (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope draws the foul) | |||
7:16 | +1 | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 11-13 | |
7:01 | Dennis Schroder misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
6:59 | Michael Porter Jr. defensive rebound | |||
6:49 | Nikola Jokic misses two point turnaround hook shot | |||
6:46 | Aaron Gordon offensive rebound | |||
6:46 | +2 | Aaron Gordon makes two point tip layup | 13-13 | |
6:35 | Austin Reaves turnover (lost ball) (Nikola Jokic steals) | |||
6:29 | Michael Porter Jr. misses three point running jump shot | |||
6:24 | LeBron James defensive rebound | |||
6:14 | +2 | Anthony Davis makes two point driving layup (Dennis Schroder assists) | 13-15 | |
6:01 | +2 | Nikola Jokic makes two point cutting layup (Aaron Gordon assists) | 15-15 | |
5:46 | Rui Hachimura misses two point hook shot | |||
5:45 | Rui Hachimura offensive rebound | |||
5:44 | Rui Hachimura misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | |||
5:44 | Anthony Davis offensive rebound | |||
5:42 | Jamal Murray blocks Anthony Davis's two point putback layup | |||
5:42 | Lakers offensive rebound | |||
5:36 | +3 | LeBron James makes three point jump shot | 15-18 | |
5:25 | Bruce Brown turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | |||
5:09 | +2 | LeBron James makes two point fadeaway jump shot | 15-20 | |
4:52 | Michael Porter Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
4:49 | Rui Hachimura defensive rebound | |||
4:27 | +3 | LeBron James makes three point jump shot (D'Angelo Russell assists) | 15-23 | |
4:11 | +2 | Aaron Gordon makes two point alley-oop dunk (Nikola Jokic assists) | 17-23 | |
3:56 | Nikola Jokic blocks Anthony Davis's two point cutting layup | |||
3:55 | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope defensive rebound | |||
3:43 | +3 | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope makes three point jump shot (Nikola Jokic assists) | 20-23 | |
3:24 | Anthony Davis misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
3:22 | D'Angelo Russell offensive rebound | |||
3:18 | Lonnie Walker IV misses three point jump shot | |||
3:16 | Michael Porter Jr. defensive rebound | |||
3:08 | Anthony Davis shooting foul (Michael Porter Jr. draws the foul) | |||
3:08 | Lakers 60 second timeout | |||
3:08 | +1 | Michael Porter Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 21-23 | |
3:08 | +1 | Michael Porter Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 22-23 | |
2:49 | +2 | LeBron James makes two point driving layup | 22-25 | |
2:49 | Michael Porter Jr. shooting foul (LeBron James draws the foul) | |||
2:49 | +1 | LeBron James makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 22-26 | |
2:30 | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope misses three point jump shot | |||
2:28 | Anthony Davis defensive rebound | |||
2:22 | Jeff Green blocks LeBron James's two point driving layup | |||
2:22 | Lakers offensive rebound | |||
2:08 | +3 | LeBron James makes three point jump shot (Anthony Davis assists) | 22-29 | |
1:54 | D'Angelo Russell blocks Kentavious Caldwell-Pope's two point driving layup | |||
1:51 | Bruce Brown offensive rebound | |||
1:48 | Bruce Brown misses three point jump shot | |||
1:46 | LeBron James defensive rebound | |||
1:28 | Rui Hachimura misses three point jump shot | |||
1:25 | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | |||
1:19 | Jamal Murray misses three point jump shot | |||
1:17 | Anthony Davis defensive rebound | |||
1:07 | Dennis Schroder misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
1:03 | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | |||
0:53 | +2 | Jamal Murray makes two point driving layup | 24-29 | |
0:42 | +3 | LeBron James makes three point jump shot (D'Angelo Russell assists) | 24-32 | |
0:26 | +2 | Jamal Murray makes two point stepback jump shot | 26-32 | |
0:08 | +2 | D'Angelo Russell makes two point driving floating jump shot | 26-34 | |
0:01 | Dennis Schroder personal foul (Jamal Murray draws the foul) | |||
0:01 | Lonnie Walker IV personal foul (Jeff Green draws the foul) | |||
0:01 | +1 | Jeff Green makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 27-34 | |
0:01 | +1 | Jeff Green makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 28-34 | |
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:45 | Michael Porter Jr. turnover (bad pass) (LeBron James steals) | |||
11:35 | D'Angelo Russell misses two point driving reverse layup | |||
11:32 | Jeff Green defensive rebound | |||
11:17 | +3 | Michael Porter Jr. makes three point jump shot (Jamal Murray assists) | 31-34 | |
10:53 | +2 | Lonnie Walker IV makes two point driving floating jump shot | 31-36 | |
10:28 | +2 | Jamal Murray makes two point stepback jump shot | 33-36 | |
10:16 | +2 | Austin Reaves makes two point driving layup (LeBron James assists) | 33-38 | |
10:16 | Jeff Green shooting foul (Austin Reaves draws the foul) | |||
10:16 | +1 | Austin Reaves makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 33-39 | |
10:03 | Lonnie Walker IV personal foul (Jamal Murray draws the foul) | |||
9:53 | Jamal Murray turnover (bad pass) (LeBron James steals) | |||
9:50 | +2 | Tristan Thompson makes two point running dunk (LeBron James assists) | 33-41 | |
9:29 | Jamal Murray misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
9:24 | D'Angelo Russell defensive rebound | |||
9:17 | +2 | LeBron James makes two point driving finger roll layup (Dennis Schroder assists) | 33-43 | |
9:16 | Nuggets 60 second timeout | |||
8:59 | Dennis Schroder personal foul (Nikola Jokic draws the foul) | |||
8:43 | +3 | Nikola Jokic makes three point fadeaway jump shot (Jamal Murray assists) | 36-43 | |
8:34 | Aaron Gordon personal foul (LeBron James draws the foul) | |||
8:34 | LeBron James technical foul (Double) | |||
8:34 | Aaron Gordon technical foul (Double) | |||
8:20 | D'Angelo Russell misses three point jump shot | |||
8:20 | Nuggets defensive rebound | |||
8:20 | Tristan Thompson kicked ball violation | |||
8:02 | +2 | Nikola Jokic makes two point turnaround hook shot | 38-43 | |
7:50 | +2 | LeBron James makes two point driving layup | 38-45 | |
7:35 | D'Angelo Russell personal foul (Bruce Brown draws the foul) | |||
7:27 | Nikola Jokic misses three point jump shot | |||
7:24 | LeBron James defensive rebound | |||
7:18 | Nikola Jokic personal foul (Rui Hachimura draws the foul) | |||
7:11 | Anthony Davis misses two point alley-oop layup | |||
7:09 | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | |||
7:05 | +2 | Aaron Gordon makes two point running layup (Jamal Murray assists) | 40-45 | |
6:43 | +3 | Dennis Schroder makes three point jump shot (Austin Reaves assists) | 40-48 | |
6:32 | +2 | Jamal Murray makes two point driving floating jump shot | 42-48 | |
6:19 | Bruce Brown shooting foul (Rui Hachimura draws the foul) | |||
6:19 | +1 | Rui Hachimura makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 42-49 | |
6:19 | +1 | Rui Hachimura makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 42-50 | |
6:00 | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope turnover (bad pass) (Anthony Davis steals) | |||
5:41 | +3 | Dennis Schroder makes three point jump shot (Austin Reaves assists) | 42-53 | |
5:29 | Lakers technical foul (Defensive three second) | |||
5:29 | +1 | Jamal Murray makes technical free throw 1 of 1 | 43-53 | |
5:24 | Nikola Jokic turnover (bad pass) (Dennis Schroder steals) | |||
5:20 | Rui Hachimura misses two point running layup | |||
5:18 | LeBron James offensive rebound | |||
5:18 | +2 | LeBron James makes two point tip layup | 43-55 | |
5:18 | Nuggets 60 second timeout | |||
5:01 | +3 | Nikola Jokic makes three point jump shot (Aaron Gordon assists) | 46-55 | |
4:40 | +2 | Rui Hachimura makes two point driving reverse layup (Dennis Schroder assists) | 46-57 | |
4:26 | Nikola Jokic misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
4:24 | Lakers defensive rebound | |||
4:08 | +2 | LeBron James makes two point driving layup | 46-59 | |
3:54 | +2 | Jamal Murray makes two point driving layup (Nikola Jokic assists) | 48-59 | |
3:41 | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope shooting foul (Rui Hachimura draws the foul) | |||
3:41 | +1 | Rui Hachimura makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 48-60 | |
3:41 | +1 | Rui Hachimura makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 48-61 | |
3:19 | Michael Porter Jr. misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
3:16 | Nikola Jokic offensive rebound | |||
3:12 | +3 | Aaron Gordon makes three point jump shot (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope assists) | 51-61 | |
2:51 |