Nikola Jokic had 30 factors, 14 rebounds and 13 assists, and the visiting Denver Nuggets superior to the NBA Finals for the primary time in group historical past Monday evening, sweeping the Western Convention finals with a 113-111 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.
James completed with 40 factors, 10 rebounds and 9 assists after the highest-scoring postseason half of his profession, however even the highest scorer in NBA historical past could not maintain the deep, dynamic Nuggets from their sixth consecutive victory total.
James missed two tying photographs within the remaining seconds, with Aaron Gordon showing to dam his shot on the buzzer.
Jokic earned his eighth triple-double of the playoffs by the third quarter, breaking Wilt Chamberlain’s 1967 NBA document for triple-doubles in a single postseason.
Together with his eighth triple-double of the 2023 Playoffs, Nikola Jokić has set a document for essentially the most triple-doubles in a single postseason (beforehand held by Wilt Chamberlain, seven in 1967). <a href=”https://t.co/Uu1Xsm3Wdt”>pic.twitter.com/Uu1Xsm3Wdt</a>
—@NBAPR
The Serbian massive man additionally led the Nuggets’ tenacious defensive effort regardless of choosing up his fifth foul halfway by means of the fourth quarter — and when Denver wanted a giant basket, Jokic delivered that as nicely.
The Lakers erased a seven-point deficit and tied it with 5 minutes to play, however Jokic hit a 25-foot fallaway 3-pointer. After Anthony Davis hit two free throws to tie it with 1:11 left, Jokic muscled his well past Davis for the tiebreaking layup.
BAAAANG ‼️ <a href=”https://t.co/s5QeX65GA8″>pic.twitter.com/s5QeX65GA8</a>
—@nuggets
James then badly missed an odd fallaway jumper with 26 seconds left. After Murray missed a turnaround to provide the Lakers one final probability, James’ drive on the buzzer was thwarted by Murray and Gordon, who scored 22 factors.
The Nuggets will cap their excellent season underneath coach Michael Malone by taking part in for his or her first NBA championship. Denver each eradicated the Lakers for the primary time in eight playoff conferences and swept a playoff sequence for the primary time, probably incomes a number of days off earlier than the finals.
James scored 21 factors within the first quarter and labored desperately to maintain the Lakers aggressive within the remaining recreation of his twentieth NBA season. However the Lakers could not even pressure a Sport 5, with an apparently exhausted Davis scoring 10 of his 21 factors within the fourth quarter and including 14 rebounds.
Austin Reaves scored 17 factors for the Lakers, who had been swept in a playoff sequence for the eleventh time in group historical past, together with 9 best-of-seven sequence.
Dealing with elimination for the primary time of their outstanding playoff run, James and the Lakers responded with their finest half of the sequence, taking a 73-58 halftime lead on James’ broad shoulders. He had 21 factors within the first quarter, tying his playoff profession excessive for 1 / 4 in his document 282nd postseason recreation. He then matched his profession excessive for factors in any first half.
However the Nuggets responded with a relentless third quarter, taking their first lead lower than eight minutes after halftime. Denver pushed its result in seven earlier than the Lakers rallied, with Davis’ putback dunk tying it with 5:02 to play.
