18 Video Views·May 23, 2023
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
In the series they've hit 17 more threes and in three close games. That's a huge number
James drives on gordon goes reverse and an easy bucket for james
First time he's come off the bench since he was acquired
Have the trade deadline
and a starter
It's coming back to la
How about that
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
Well, it comes up a high pick and roll. He keeps it
and then he
Gets his way into the paint multiple fakes
and a little fade
russell drives past brown
cross court james corner three
Now porter guarding james backs in backs in using his strength couple of fakes layup shots good and one
Keep saying it when he goes into the post
They have no answer if they single coverage he can get a good look
Five on the shot clock back up top james three-pointer. That's good
18 first quarter points for lebron james and a lead back up to seven
We've seen that play be so effective clearing the side and allowed gerald murray to have an iso
James sets fires
The first quarter murray again with thompson on him trying to thread the needle stolen by james
James to thompson goes up and throws it down feds leading the offense for the lakers. How about the minutes by tristan thompson?
Russell on the drive whips a pass to schroeder back up james fakes drives gets to the rim lays it in
No secondary help that's going to be a hard
One-on-one matchup for tristan thompson james goes right at yelkich and finishes nine of eleven from the field
Confident defensively comes up with a steal the hachimura goes right at yelkich backshot won't go the tip is good from james
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
Sometimes the message to the guys in the huddle is
Get me the ball and get out of my way james backing in against caldwell pope
spins
Drive strip by porter gets it back
Surrounded inside the davis and davis banks it in
Under three to play here in the third the momentum has shifted dramatically
James gets inside it scores his first points of the third quarter
And again for thompson, this is only his sixth game of the playoffs 23 minutes total prior to tonight
They're playing in an elimination game
james throws it up and in
Right now, it's the nuggets up seven
James head down drives in and finishes. How do you get momentum back in this fourth quarter and early to extend your season close 12 minutes
You got to have a next play mentality. You got to come out forceful from the gate tristan thompson
Who would have thought he'd be on the floor and the conference finals for the lakers didn't play at all
Murray picks up james james drives double t pass inside the davis throws it up and in and it's back to two
James brings up the ball much like jokic doing it for denver
James drives on jokic gets inside a quick pocket for james. He's got 40
