The Los Angeles Lakers have avoided getting swept by the Denver Nuggets for the second consecutive postseason. Facing elimination and another embarrassment in Game 4 of their first-round series against the Nuggets on Saturday night, the Lakers displayed a remarkable resilience and came up with a 119-108 win.
Prior to Saturday, the Lakers lost 11 consecutive games against the Nuggets. They were swept in the 2023 Western Conference Finals, lost all four regular-season games in the 2023-24 season, and then fell down 3-0 at the start of this year’s playoff series.
But in Game 4, the Lakers found a spark. They finished the first quarter with a five-point lead and never trailed again. LA’s superstar LeBron James led the way with 30 points, five rebounds, and four assists, while Anthony Davis added 25 points and 23 rebounds. This proved enough to overcome another monster outing by Nuggets’ superstar Nikola Jokic, who had 33 points, 14 rebounds, and 14 assists.
Speaking with reports after the game, James said that the Lakers gave themselves “another life” with a win.
“The only opportunity for us is just to play the next game,” LeBron James said. “And we’ve given ourselves another life. We’ve given ourselves another lifeline, and it’s a one-game series for us.”
However, the Lakers are still facing a massive challenge. In order to advance to the second round, they would need to become the first team in NBA history to overcome a 3-0 deficit in a playoff series. The Lakers and the Nuggets are playing again on Monday night in another elimination game for the LA team.
