The Los Angeles Lakers managed to break the Denver Nuggets’ dominance over their matchups, keeping their playoff hopes alive for at least another game.
As expected, LeBron James led the charge, contributing 30 points, while Anthony Davis added 25 points and an impressive 23 rebounds. With their efforts, the Lakers secured a crucial 119-108 victory over Denver in Game 4 of their first-round series on Saturday night.
D’Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves also made significant contributions, each scoring 21 points, as the seventh-seeded Lakers ended their 11-game losing streak against the reigning NBA champions, securing their first win over the Nuggets since December 2022.
In a series marked by predictable patterns, this game saw a shift in momentum in favor of the Lakers. Despite the Nuggets rallying behind Nikola Jokic in the second half, the Lakers remained resilient, unlike in previous matchups.
LeBron James, displaying his enduring talent, scored 14 points in the fourth quarter alone, leading the Lakers to victory in his remarkable 21st NBA season. The series now moves to Game 5 on Monday night in Denver.
“We’ve given ourselves another chance, and now it’s all about Monday’s game,” James commented. “That’s the most crucial game of our season, and we’re fully aware of that.”
Last season, Denver swept Los Angeles out of the Western Conference finals. However, the current Lakers, despite trailing 0-3 in the series, showed a performance more reminiscent of a team that entered the playoffs with 12 wins in 15 games.
“We have another game to play, and if we win, we get to play more,” Reaves added. “The odds might not be in our favor, but whenever we can stay afloat and give ourselves a chance to achieve something remarkable, we’re ready for the challenge.”
Jokic recorded 33 points, 14 rebounds, and 14 assists, marking his 18th career triple-double and his second in this series. However, despite his efforts, the two-time MVP and his teammates couldn’t regain their usual late-game control over the Lakers.
Although the Lakers’ 19-point lead decreased to 113-106 with just over six minutes remaining, thanks to Jokic’s three-point play, Reaves’ crucial jumper and free throws in the final minute secured the win for Los Angeles.
Denver struggled with another slow offensive start, a recurring theme throughout the series.
“We want to start faster, but I’ve learned from horse racing that it’s not just about the start, it’s about how you finish,” Jokic mentioned. “Unfortunately, we didn’t finish well today, so hopefully, we can improve. We aim to take control early on, but it didn’t happen for us this time.”
Michael Porter Jr. contributed 27 points and 11 rebounds for Denver, while Jamal Murray scored 22 points, albeit missing all four of his 3-point attempts.
Aaron Gordon, who scored 29 points in Game 3, managed only seven points in this game. Coach Michael Malone emphasized that the team’s defense in the paint was lacking, as they allowed a staggering 72 points inside.
Malone expressed his frustration, stating, “Every huddle was about defending the paint. In Game 3, they scored 70 points inside, and we still won.
But tonight, allowing 72 points is unacceptable. We lacked the necessary physicality and urgency. It didn’t feel like a game where we could close out the series.”
Although the Nuggets previously lost a closeout game while leading 3-0 in last season’s first round, they eventually won that series and went on to claim their first title.
While Jokic and James made significant contributions, Davis continued his impressive performance for the fourth consecutive game. His 23 rebounds matched his career playoff high, and he led the Lakers in assists alongside six assists.
“It’s tough to face a sweep,” Davis admitted. “Nobody wants to experience that, especially heading into the summer. You have to live with that feeling throughout the break. We didn’t discuss it much, but we understand the importance of winning tonight’s game. We need to maintain this level of play for the rest of the series.”
The Lakers didn’t give up despite their tough situation in Game 4. They focused on scoring inside, getting 44 points in the paint during the first half and taking their fourth halftime lead in the series.
They extended their lead to 15 points in the third quarter and kept adding to it until the final minutes. Jokic and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope helped the Nuggets mount a comeback.
“They were playing fast and getting easy layups,” Jokic observed. “They were dominating us in the paint. We struggled to make shots, and that affected our defense. They’re a strong team.”
Reggie Jackson played nine minutes for Denver despite spraining his ankle in Game 3.
Caleb Williams, the Heisman Trophy-winning former USC quarterback and No. 1 overall pick in this weekend’s NFL draft by the Chicago Bears, watched the game from courtside.
