Never miss a moment with the latest news, trending stories and highlights to bring you closer to your favorite players and teams. Download now: https://app.link.nba.com/APP22
Led by Nikola Jokic’s 30 points, 14 rebounds, and 13 assists, the Denver Nuggets defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 4, 113-111. Jamal Murray added 25 points for the Nuggets in the victory, while LeBron James led all scorers with 40 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists for the Lakers. After closing out this best-of-seven series, 4-0, the Nuggets will now advance to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history, where they will face the winner of the Boston Celtics-Miami Heat series (Miami leads, 3-0). Nikola Jokic (27.8 PPG, 14.5 RPG, 11.8 APG) is now the 4th player in NBA history to average a triple-double in a Conference Finals series, joining: Jason Kidd (2001-02 vs. Celtics): 17.5 PPG, 11.2 RPG, 10.2 APG Magic Johnson (1982-83 vs. Spurs): 17.5 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 14.0 APG Wilt Chamberlain (1966-67 vs. Celtics): 21.6 PPG, 32.0 RPG, 10.0 APG* *Divisional Finals Nikola Jokic joins Wilt Chamberlain (1967) as the only players in NBA history to average a triple-double in back-to-back Playoff series. The Nuggets 93 Playoff wins entering tonight were the most Playoff wins by a team to never make a Finals appearance in NBA history. Nikola Jokic has now recorded his 8th triple-double of the 2023 Playoffs, passing Wilt Chamberlain (1967) for most Triple-Doubles in a single postseason. Anthony Davis (50) is the 3rd Lakers player (5th instance) in franchise history with 50+ blocks in a single postseason, joining: Shaquille O’Neal (2003-2004): 61 blocks Shaquille O’Neal (1999-2000): 55 blocks Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1982-1983): 55 blocks Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1979-1980): 58 blocks LeBron James (38 years, 143 days) is now the oldest player in NBA history to record 40+ points in a Playoff game, previously: Karl Malone (36 years, 273 days): 50 points on 04/22/2000
Jeff, as a coach, do you change some of the way you do things when it's an elimination game?
I don't know if you change, Mike. If you have the right preparation and the right habits.
And again, all three games have been close, especially the first two decided in the final minute.
And game three decided down the stretch in the fourth quarter.
Anthony Davis gets the first bucket of the game.
Schreuder glued to him right now.
Gordon gets another shot, this time knocks it down.
Hachimora, goes to the rim and finishes.
Roy Hachimora attacking the goal at a point in the Laker League.
Make perimeter shots.
Schreuder pokes it away from Murray.
Here's Reeves, Reeves ahead of the pack, layup, it's good.
Timeout Denver.
Why they're reluctant, or James is reluctant, to go in there more as Pope makes it and is fouled from three.
Has the trade deadline.
And a starter is coming back to L.A.
You see that every once in a while.
James now drives, spins, goes inside.
Nice footwork, jump shot, got it.
Nine early points for LeBron James, the lead back up to five for the Lakers.
Nice play by Russell.
Baseline drive, baseline drift.
Inside is Gordon.
And Gordon with six points here in the first.
His scoring's been down.
Hosting up Hachimora.
Back up top, ball well pulled, three-pointer is good.
And that's a poor job.
Now Porter, guarding James, backs in, backs in using his strength.
Couple of fakes, layup, shot's good, and one.
Great start for LeBron James.
Murray and Schreuder, one-on-one.
Up and under, left-handed.
That's a gorgeous move from Jamal Murray.
James sets, fires, come in.
Put the time in earlier today.
He's three for 19 from three in the first three games as Murray answers down the other end.
Murray has it.
Murray on the drive, looking.
Michael Porter drives again.
Got that one.
That's his first field goal.
That's five rebounds.
Shot clock at seven.
Walker, off-balance ball.
Pretty shot from Lonnie Walker.
James races down the floor, trying to find some room.
Austin Reeves.
Foul.
Catch with a chance for a three-point play after getting hit.
Murray again with Thompson on him, trying to thread the needle.
Stolen by James.
James to Thompson, goes up and throws it down.
Defense leading the offense for the Lakers.
In the first second quarter, Murray gets inside.
Back to Jokic.
Shot clock winding down.
Jokic has to put it up.
High on the three.
Oh, he knocks it down.
Stepping backwards.
Falling backwards.
And Jokic the other way.
Murray.
Oh, what a pass from Murray.
And Gordon lays it up and in.
Schroeder, this time, no hesitation.
They're six of 10 from three-point range.
Led by LeBron James.
Murray, little one-hander.
Nice touch from Jamal Murray.
Hachimura on the drive, gets inside, lays it in.
Very quick.
I don't want to take away from the game.
Communicating with his guys.
James spins, gets inside.
29 points here in the first half.
And we still have four minutes to play.
He is yet to sit.
Murray drives.
High Arkansas.
Oh, what a shot.
Davis came close to blocking it.
That is an amazing touch by Jamal Murray.
54% now for the Nuggets.
Schroeder to Reeves.
Reeves on the drive.
And the pin it.
Reeves thought he got it.
Gordon holding.
Shot clock at six.
Jokic finds Porter.
Porter, a good look from the corner.
Got it again.
Here comes Jokic across the lane.
Off balance shot.
Gordon right there to put it in.
As he would when he's going at the basket from the post or isolating.
Jokic shoots and scores.
Gordon goes inside.
Stripped by Davis.
Knocked out of his hands.
Quick hand from the big man.
Reeves finds room.
Knocks down the shot.
He's got double figures.
Schroeder trying to whip it around.
Jokic comes up with a steal.
Schroeder takes it right back.
Throws it in.
Stolen by Murray.
Porter off the bounce.
Goes at Reeves.
Bank shot is good.
Schroeder going coast to coast.
Layup is no good.
And Jokic comes away.
Quick outlet.
Gordon.
Gordon goes at Davis.
Blocked by Davis.
Ejection from Anthony.
Reeves.
Foul.
Shot won't go but two free throws.
Back to Porter.
Porter, three-pointer.
Gordon's tip missed.
Another tip no good.
Still alive.
Jokic lays it up and in.
And the foul.
And the lead is cut to five.
To the Nuggets.
James.
Dangerous pass.
But Reeves able to get it.
Reeves behind the back.
Falling away.
Puts it up.
Puts it in.
Austin Reeves with a beauty.
Rebound Porter.
Won't go.
Jokic tip misses.
Second one no good.
And Caldwell-Polk comes away.
Back door.
Caldwell-Polk layup.
This time he banks it in and a foul.
And the Nuggets have their first lead of the game.
And Gordon, who's had his best game of the series,
comes up with a rebound.
Picks it out.
Porter.
Porter a three-pointer.
That's good.
Porter now with 15.
We talked about it in the open.
Be the Hawks.
23 minutes total prior to tonight.
They're playing in an elimination game.
James throws it up and in.
And that's two.
Bruce Brown drives and finishes.
First points of the game for Brown,
and it's a six-point Nugget lead.
Seven.
James head down.
Drives in and finishes.
Something good all we see.
How do you get momentum back in this fourth quarter
and early to extend your season?
Well, it's 12 minutes.
You've got to have a next play mentality.
You've got to come out forceful from the gate.
35 minutes already.
Russell.
Elbow jumper.
That's good.
Schroeder goes at Jeff Green.
Quick shot is good.
Crafty move there from Dennis Schroeder.
Murray up top.
Jokic five to shoot.
James reaching in.
Fall away.
Shot is good.
25 for Jokic.
And the Denver lead back up to four.
Murray picks up James.
James drives.
Double-team pass inside to Davis.
Throws it up and in.
And it's back to two.
With Murray on him.
He backs in, turns, shoots.
Does not get him to go.
Davis, the rebound.
Throws it down.
Up top to Jokic.
Inside to Gordon.
Throws it down.
And the foul.
Jokic with another perfect pass
and a chance for a three-point play.
Much like Jokic doing it for Denver.
James drives on Jokic.
Jokic gets inside.
A quick pocket for James.
He's got 40.
Pocket four.
Jokic has to put it up.
Falling away.
Puts it up.
Bang!
Knocks it down.
His foot was on the line.
104 with two and a half to play.
James up top.
Schroeder reads.
Fires away.
Puts it in.
The answer.
A three-pointer.
Back to two.
Anthony Davis.
On the inbound.
Jokic drives.
And puts it up and in.
Nuggets up by two.
Birdie for Jokic.
Reaves is the inbounder.
Reaves holding.
James comes out of the pack.
James on the drive.
Goes inside.
Stopped.
Shot blocked.
Gets it back.
It's over.
Denver makes history.
The Nuggets are going to the NBA Finals
for the first time in franchise history.
