Lakers demolition completed, Jokic and the Nuggets advanced to the team’s maiden Finals.
Lebron James came out swinging, trying to avoid what would prove to be the inevitable – a sweep. He played the entire game, with the sole intention of keeping his team in the ball game, but it was the Joker, with another historic performance, that would prevail in this intense series.
By the end of the night, James had 40 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists (despite 31 of the points coming in the first half alone and not making a single three-pointer in the second half either). The Lakers would fall 113-111 in the end, with James failing to convert 2 clutch plays into the basket.
But the night and the series belonged to the Joker, who recorded yet another triple-double, the third of this series, and 8th for this playoff for the big man, making him the new record holder for triple-doubles in a single postseason. The big man but in one of the most efficient performances yet, and was rightly adjudged the Western Conference Finals MVP, which he later proclaimed, belonged to his teammates.
Nikola Jokic just averaged a triple-double (27.8, 14.5, and 11.8), on the best defensive team en route to sweeping them, as though it was light work.
The Denver Nuggets will also have Aaron Gordon to thank, who shot an efficient 9/14 for his 22 while putting in an excellent shift on defense all night, including blocking Lebron in the clutch. The Nuggets’ forward have now successfully defended Kevin Durant, Lebron James, and Karl Anthony-Towns in one playoff run.
The Nuggets will now await, most likely, the Miami Heat to contest the finals of the NBA 2023 Playoffs.
