Denver Nuggets 113 vs 111 Los Angeles Lakers summary: stats and highlights | NBA Playoffs Game 4
The Denver Nuggets are heading to their first NBA Finals in franchise history after completing the sweep of the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night from Crypto.com Arena. Nikola Jokic had another triple double in a 30 point night as the Nuggets survived to win it 113-111.
LeBron’s red hot start
After losing three straight, and dropping their first home loss in the postseason the Lakers came into Game 4 on the brink of elimination in a place they have only lost four time in since the All-Star Break.
LA came out looking like a desperate team and LeBron James was in take-over mode from the very start. He wasted no time getting going, and he did it by getting to the basket and taking advantage of mismatches on Nuggets defenders. He used penetration and the post up in a first quarter in which he scored 21 points.
The Nuggets looked out of rhythm for the first time in the series as the Lakers extended their lead to 15 before the halftime break. Nikola Jokic had just 10 points, while Jamal Murray had 15 at the break after scoring 30 in the first half of Game 3.
Denver D shut down LA
It was the role players who would step up in the first half and keep the Nuggets within striking distance. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope hit a three early threes and Aaron Gordon poured in 22 points in the close out game but there was still work to be done in the second half.
Denver started the third quarter on a 7-0 run and that would spark Murray and Jokic going for the rest of the game. Jokic had as many points in the first five minutes of the third quarter as he did in the entire first half as the Denver defense locked it and held the Lakers to just 16 points and 7 field goals in the quarter.
After scoring 31 points in the first half, LeBron was not as active in the paint, and rarely posted up. Instead he started most of the possessions with the ball in his hands creating around the perimeter which took away what was working so well in the opening 24 minutes. He ended the night with a spectacular stat line, dropping 40, 10 and 9 assists but it wouldn’t be enough to extend the series.
Jokic seals it on another triple double night
Denver outscored the Lakers by 20 in the third quarter and took a five point lead into the final 12 minutes of the game. Both teams countered in a defensive fourth quarter in which just 41 points total were scored. Anthony Davis had a cold night from the field but had 10 of his 21 in the fourth to keep the Nuggets tight.
With under a minute to go, Jokic gave the Nuggets the lead with a strong drive to the cup to put Denver up 113-111. LeBron had a chance to tie or take the lead with four seconds on the clock, but it was again the defense, which gave up just 38 second half points, that clinched the sweep of the Lakers.
Jokic ended the night with 30, 14 and 13 assists to secure yet another playoff triple double. Murray chipped it 25 and Michael Porter Jr. posted 15 as the Nuggets starting five accounted for 105 of the 111 points scored in Game 4.
The Nuggets are off to their first NBA Finals in franchise history, and the number one seed in the west will now await an opponent as the Heat will have a chance to close out the Celtics in Miami on Tuesday night.
It's no surprise the Joker was named MVP of the Western Conference Finals after a fantastic postseason. He was quick to give all the credit to his teammates and coaching staff like he always does.
It's been a 47 year wait, but the City of Denver will finally see their Nuggets in the NBA Finals!
LA had a chance to win or tie it up in the last seconds but some outstanding defense from Murray and Gordon prevented LeBron from putting a shot up and that sends the Nuggets to their first NBA Finals in franchise history.
With the game on the line, who else were the Nuggets going to go to? Jokic took Hachimura off the dribble and gave Denver the lead with under a minute to go.
This is not another angle of the same shot from earlier. Jokic did this twice in Game 4 and is starting to make this buzzer beating fade away look routine.
Jokic put the team on his back in the second half and finished the night with 30, 14 and 13 assists for yet another playoff triple double
KCP had a big game against his former team scoring 13 points to close out the Lakers in a place he used to call home.
Jokic had 10 points in the first half as the Nuggets went to the break down 15. He scored as many points in the first five minutes of the third quarter.
Denver were down 15 at halftime, but came storming back in the third to take the lead from the Lakers midway through the quarter.
The Nuggets hit just 3/13 threes in the first quarter, but Jokic drilled this incredible three to get Denver on the right track from downtown.
Murray had a scorching hot first quarter in Game 3, and Jokic has been incredible all postseason, but it was KCP who got the Nuggets off to a quick start with three early threes.
THE DENVER NUGGETS ARE GOING TO THE NBA FINALS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FRANCHISE HISTORY!!!
James was stuffed on his way to the basket and IT'S ALL OVER!!!
Murray missed the floater in traffic and the Lakers get the ball back with 4 seconds to go!
Timeout Lakers with the season on the line!
TImeout Lakers with 31.3 to go!
Jokic muscles his way to the rack off the dribble and gets the lay up to go.
Gordon called for an off the ball foul and AD hits both FTs.
It's tied up with 1:13 to go in Game 4!
Davis got fouled by Murray and he hits both FTs at the line.
They take a look at that last Jokic wonder shot and rule it a three point FG.
Gordon at the line after the foul on Reaves and he hits one of two with 2:01 to go in the fourth.
Reaves with a huge triple in the corner to bring the Nuggets to within 2!
JOKIC DID IT AGAIN!!! A fall away deep two with the shot clock expiring!
James goes at Jokic who has five fouls and he gets the lay up to fall.
Gordon missed the FT out of the timeout.
Jokic hits Gordon streaking to the cup and he gets the jam and the foul!
Timeout Lakers with 3:34 to go!
Davis fouled Murray on the three ball and he hits all three FTs with 4:43 on the clock.
LeBron missed the jump hook but Davis got to the rebound and threw it down on the put back!
Timeout Nuggets with 5:02 to go!
Jokic called for another offensive foul and that's his fifth!
Slip pass from LeBron to AD and he hits the floater in the lane.
Jokic called for the offensive foul and that's his fourth with under 6:00 to go.
Jokic shook off LeBron and hits the turnaround jumper from the elbow out of the timeout.
Timeout Lakers with 7:19 left in Game 4 from LA.
Davis hits a FT line jumper and will that get him going in this fourth quarter?
Murray answers with a floater over Davis from outside the lane.
Schroder with a lay up off the inbound.
Brown at the line after the foul on Russell and he hits both FTs.
Jokic dumps it off to Brown underneath for the lay up out of the timeout.
Russell hits the elbow jumper and we are tied up from LA!
Timeout Denver with 10:05 to go in the fourth!
James to the line after the foul on Brown and he hits one of two FTs.
Thompson starts the quarter with an AND ONE jam! FT is no good.
We are at the end of the third quarter and the Nuggets came out of the halftime break on a mission. They held LA to just 7 FGs in quarter and Jokic had 14 and moved past Wilt Chamberlain for most triple doubles in a post season.
James takes Jokic off the dribble and lays it up off the glass.
Jokic at the line and he hits one of two after the foul on Davis.
Brown with a drive and finger roll and the Nuggets lead by 6!
Gordon hits his third three of the night after AD dared him to take it!
James gets back into the paint and he hits the jump hook over Murray.
Jokic's jump hook falls and he's having a fantastic third quarter, in another triple double performance.
James gets into the paint and drops the floater. He hasn't been working to much in the paint in this second half, he needs to get in there more.
Porter steps into a three ball in transition and the Lakers are in danger of losing their grasp on this game.
Dump off from LeBron to AD and he hits just his third FG of the night from underneath.
KCP hits the FT out of the break.
A Jokic offensive rebound leads to a KCP lay up AND ONE!
Timeout Lakers with 4:39 to go in the third quarter with KCP at the line out of the break.
Another tough shot by Porter which he hits off the glass after contact from Hachimura.
Tough shot from Reaves who got the roll on the fader from the FT line.
Murray stops on a dime and hits the pull up jumper over AD. 18-4 run for Denver.
Hachimura gets a piece of Jokic on the three point attempt and he hits all three FTs. It's a one possession game just like that.
Schroder with the floater over Jokic and that's just their second FG of the second half.
Jokic gets the offensive board, the bucket and the foul! FT is good after the foul on Hachimura!
Gordon was dared to shoot the three and he drills it from the wing!
Reaves heading to the line after the foul on Murray and he hits both FTs.
Gordon tipped the missed KCP three to Jokic and he gets the easy put back.
Quick timeout from LA with 9:14 to go in the third quarter.
Porter goes right into the body of Reaves, gets the bucket but no foul.
Murray hit the FT after another defensive three second call and then he gets the pull up to drop from the baseline.
Reaves gets to the FT line and hits the floater over Jokic.
Jokic starts the half with a mid range jumper and he's got 12 on the night.
WE ARE BACK FROM LA FOR THE SECOND HALF OF ACTION!
LeBron played 23 minutes and 56 seconds of the 24 first half minutes. LA knew they'd need him and he is delivering in Game 4. Will he have enough in the tank to play every minutes of the second?
Jokic may not be having that great of a night scoring the basketball but he's hit one of those famous shots that leaves defenders scratching their heads.
Reaves got the and 1 to go and he's got 8 points which is the fewest of the Lakers scorers. The bench isn't doing much, they have just 6 points and it might be all up to the starters to carry LA to Game 5.
The Lakers defensive intensity has picked up in this elimination game, but Murray is still making tough shots even when the looks aren't great.
LeBron saw something he liked in the paint and started to go to work underneath which lead to a huge 1st quarter in which he scored 21.
When it's your night, it's your night. LeBron hasn't missed a three all night and even when he's not trying to hit threes they are falling tonight.
Murray had a subdued first half, and Jokic was playing more of an assisting role so that opened the door for KCP who had three early threes in route to 10 first half points.
It was all hands on deck early on for the Lakers who got off to a quick start, and then the handed the torch to LeBron who went wild in the first half.
Hachimura got the start with Schroder in Game 4 and didn't disappoint. He played good defense on Jokic and contributed 10 points in the first half.
AD got the first bucket of the game, but only took 7 shots in a first half that was dominated by James. He and the Lakers have done a much better job on the defensive end holding the Nuggets to just 58 points.
That first half was absolutely dominated by LeBron James who played every minute of the first half, scoring 31 on 11-13 shooting, with 4 assists and 4 rebounds. Hachimura has 10, and Davis and Schroder have 9 a piece.
Murray followed up his red hot first half in Game 3 with 15 in the opening two quarters. Jokic and Caldwell-Pope both chipped in 10 a piece.
WE ARE HEADED TO HALFTIME IN GAME 4 FROM LA!!!
KCP.called for the foul and AD hits both FTs with 4 seconds to go.
Jokic just picked up his third foul and coach Malone got T'd up for protesting the call.
Reaves hit the technical FT and LeBron hits both FTs after the Jokic foul.
Jokic threw up an air ball but Gordon was there to slam the make shift alley oop.
Davis missed the lay up but got fouled by Jokic, and he hits one of two from the line with under a minute to go in the half.
Davis to the line and he hits both FTs after the foul on Murray.
Porter Jr. strokes a three balli in the corner after the kick out from Jokic!
Reaves driving strong to the cup and he lays it in off the pass from Schroder.
Murray with the mid range jumper from the elbow and he's flirting with 20.
Hachimura gets the mid range jumper from the baseline to fall and he's got 10 on the night.
Jokic extends the possession with an offensive rebound that leads to a Gordon three ball! He's got 11 in the first.
Hachimura at the line after the foul on Jokic and he hits both FTs.
Murray lays it up high off the glass as Davis comes crashing in.
James with the spin and the finish goes after the finger roll hangs on the rim.
Hachimura drives baseline and gets the lay up off the glass.
Jokic comes out of the timeout and drills the three ball!
James gets the tip in off the miss from Hachimura and he's got 27 first half points!
Timeout Nuggets with 5:18 to go in the first half.
Murray hits the line after the defensive three second technical.
Schroder with the second of the quarter and third three of the night, this one goes from the corner!
Hachimura at the line after the foul on Brown and he hits both FTs.
Murray with the floater in the lane.
Schroder jacks a three after just passing up an open look last possesion and that one drops!
Murray with the misdirection pass to Gordon down low for the wide open jam.
James going back to the iron and into the body of Jokic for the lay up on the left side.
Jokic backs down Thompson and he gets the hook shot to go in the paint.
James and and Gordon just got into a little skermish and both got T'd up.
Jokic did it again!! With the shot clock winding down and James all over him he hits one of those one footed fade away threes!
James puts it on the deck after the pump fake and he gets the finger roll to go!
Timeout Nuggets early in the second quarter after Denver find themselves down by double digits for the first time tonight.
James runs the break after the steal and he slides it over to Thompson for the transition jam.
Reaves drives baseline, takes the contact gets the foul and drops the contested lay up. FT is good to complete the three point play.
Step back from Murray and he hits the deep two from the top of the key over James.
Walker hits the runner in the lane to get his night going.
Porter drills a three with a hand in his face to start the second quarter!
LeBron James had an outrageous first quarter, scoring 21 to open the game. He is 7/9 from the field and is 4/4 from DT.
Denver shot just 3/13 from behind the arc, but they trail by just 6 thanks to 10 from KCP and 6 assists from Jokic.
Green hits both FTs after getting fouled by Walker on the inbound and that's how the first quarter is going to end!
Russell gets down the runner in the lane to go.
Murray with a tough mid range fade away on the baseline.
LeBron hits another three ball and he's got 21 in the first quarter!
Murray backing down Schroder and he hits the up and under from the block.
James drills the three ball from the top of the key and that's 18 for him in the first quarter!
James with the bucket AND 1 after drawing a triple team on the block! FT is good after the foul on Porter.
Gordon comes out of the timeout at the FT line and he hits both from the line.
TImeout Lakers with 3:08 to go in the first quarter!
KCP hits his third three of the game after Jokic found him with his 6th assist of the first quarter.
Gordon with the slam off the dish from Jokic!
Baseline pass from Russell to James in the corner and that drops for three! He's got 12 early points!
James hits the fader in the lane and he's got an early 9.
LeBron lobbed it up from an alley oop to Hachimura, and it ended up going in for three!
Gordon finds Jokic on the slick assist and the big man finishes with the finger roll down the lane.
AD going into the body of Jokic and finishing in traffic from under the bucket.
Gordon follows up the Jokic miss with a tip in and we are all tied up.
KCP drills the three ball and gets the foul on Reaves! He hits the FT to complete the four point play!
James backing down Gordon and gets the short look to drop with the left hand.
KCP hits the first three of Denver's night after they missed their first 5 from DT.
Schroder picks off the pass from Murray and Reaves finishes with the lay up on the other end! All Lakers starters have scored in a perfect start for LA.
Timeout Denver with 8:32 to go in the first quarter.
Hachimura makes a dash to the rack and he slams it home!
Murray gets the floater to drop in the lane to get his night going.
LeBron was fouled by Porter who prevented an easy dunk in transition, and he goes to the line and hits both FTs.
Schroder drills the three and he's getting involved early in his return to the starting five.
Gordon hits the elbow jumper to get the Nuggets on the board for the first time tonight.
LA going right down to AD early on and he gets the turn around fader to go. His numbers haven't been bad, but he's got to produce on the defensive end.
GAME 4 IS UNDERWAY FROM LA!!!
Lakers starters
The Lakers are tweaking their starting five in this must win Game 4 at home, putting a premium on defense to start the game. In Game 3 they started D’Angelo Russell and Jared Vanderbilt, but tonight they are going with Dennis Schroder and Rui Hachimura to try and slow down the Nuggets offense early in the game. Hachimura did a good job containing Jokic in the fourth quarter of Game 1, and the Lakers will be hoping that he can do more of the same tonight in this elimination game.
Nuggets starting five
Why change anything if your are Mike Malone. The Nuggets have won five straight, including three straight against these Lakers so there is no need for any tweaks to the starting five. It’s Jokic, Murray and Porter Jr. joined by KCP and Gordon.
Jokic putting nothing past LeBron
Before this series all the attention was on LeBron and Nikola Jokic. The two time MVP and maybe the best basketball player in the world at the moment against the NBA’s All-Time Leading Scorer and maybe the best basketball player to ever hit the hardwood. Since the start of the series the Joker has stole the headlines with his fabulous play, but is weary of the success and knows how hard it’s going to be to close out LeBron James and the Lakers.
LA has to make history to get to Finals
It’s never done until it’s done, but the Lakers are in serious trouble. They are up against a monumental task of coming back from an 0-3 deficit against a team that looks almost unstoppable. They have had no answers for Jokic, Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr. or the size and speed of this Nuggets team and will now have to win four straight games. Obviously teams have won four straight games in the playoffs, but no team has ever done it after losing the first three games of the series. If the Lakers are going to make it to the Finals they are going to have to make NBA history by doing something that has never been done before.
Denver draws blood in LA
LA has looked like a different team since Rob Palinka made the midseason changes that sparked this deep run into the playoffs. They rebound the ball better, they shoot the three better and they play with more passion and purpose. That has led to more wins, especially at home. LA lost just four home games since the All-Star break, and The Lakers are coming off of their first lost at the Crypto.com Arena since the playoffs started. Tonight they are going to have to defend their home court until the death to avoid getting swept by Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets.
No MVP, but a title will do
It’s still very early to start envisioning this scenario, but we are journalists, so we think we have the right to. Let’s paint the picture for you. Nikola Jokic won the MVP of the league in the two seasons leading up to this campaign. He had arguably his best season ever this year, averaging nearly a triple double but was edged out by Joel Embiid to keep him from being one of only a handful ever to have won three straight MVPs in a row. Embiid did a whole lot of self promotion for his MVP award, and while I’m not stating that he didn’t deserve it I will say that the chirping might have swayed the votes in a certain way. The NBA is always a bit sporadic with when they announce the date of the MVP, and if they had waited a couple more weeks Jokic may well have been on the top of everyone’s list because of the fantastic postseason he has had.
LA needs AD more than ever
It’s a known fact that as Anthony Davis goes, so do the Los Angeles Lakers. Through three games he has been drastically overshadowed by the two time MVP of the league, Nikola Jokic. In Game 1 he put up 40 points, so you can’t put all the blame on his shoulders but in the last two games he’s had 28 and 14 and 18 and 14. AD is known for his defense and shot blocking ability almost as much as he is for being a devastating scorer in the paint, but he has had no answer to the Joker in the first three games. If the Lakers are going to stay alive they will need their big man to do it on both ends.
Game 3 recap
The Lakers returned to LA nearing desperation after losing both games in Denver to start the Western Conference Finals. They did start the game like a desperate team, going down by 13 in the first quarter thanks to Jamal Murray jumping off to a 17 point first quarter. The Lakers would climb back into the game as Nikola Jokic had a night that was normal by his standards. It was a 13-0 fourth quarter run by Denver that blew the game open and put the Nuggets just one win away from their first Finals appearance in their 47 year history. Murray ended the game with 37 while Jokic poured in another 24 and 8 assists.
We are live from Crypto.com Arena
Hello everyone and welcome to LA where the Nuggets haven’t just held on to home court, they went into the Crypto.com Arena and handed the Lakers their first home loss of the postseason to inch within a win of the NBA Finals. The Lakers are on the brink of elimination and have a massive mountain to climb, but they have to start win one win. Tonight the team that many said was the favorite coming into the series has to produce or they could be starting their offseason early.
Nuggets vs. Lakers Game 4
High drama coming into Game 4 and what better stage than the Crypto.com Arena for a must win game for the Lakers who are facing elimination after losing the opening three games of the Western Conference Finals. AS English will be with you all night providing live coverage, stats, highlights and analysis of tonight’s potential close out game.