LOS ANGELES – Groans spread throughout the Crypto.com Arena. It was happening again.
When Denver’s Michael Porter Jr. completed a dunk after passing Gabe Vincent, the Nuggets suddenly found themselves trailing the Los Angeles Lakers by seven points with 3 minutes, 41 seconds left in the third quarter of Game 4. The Lakers appeared to be at edge of another. collapse, another sweep at the hands of the Nuggets, another offseason of reassessing their position in the Western Conference.
The crowd calmed down and became tense. The Lakers bench seemed worried.
Yet on the next possession, D’Angelo Russell, having rebounded from the Game 3 goose egg, drew the attention of several Nugget defenders and fired a no-look pass into the right corner for a Vincent 3. Three possessions later. , Anthony Davis beat Porter and Nikola Jokić to grab an offensive rebound – one of his 23 career playoff rebounds – and fed the ball to Taurean Prince for 3 more.
Crisis averted, at least temporarily.
The Lakers went on to win 119-108 to end their 11-game losing streak against Denver and win Game 4 of their first-round NBA playoff series. It was Los Angeles’ first win over Denver since December 16, 2022, almost 500 days ago. The Lakers still trail the best-of-seven series 3-1, but have avoided major looming offseason questions about the status of head coach Darvin Ham, LeBron James’ future, what it will look like the squad next season and even more for at least a few months. days.
In the meantime, they have a chance to further extend their season in Game 5 on Monday.
“Well, the only opportunity for us is just to play the next game,” James said. “And we gave ourselves another life. We gave ourselves another lifeline, and it’s a one-game series for us.
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After three second-half collapses, the Lakers’ offense kept pace with the Nuggets in Game 4. They were only outscored 60-58 in the second half after entering Game 4 under-42 in the second half of the series.
In four games, the Lakers led 136 of the 192 minutes in the series, a success rate of 70.8 percent. In contrast, the Nuggets led in just 21.8 percent of the series’ minutes, with the score tied in the remaining 7.4 percent.
The fact that the Lakers lost three of four games while leading for more than two-thirds of the series’ minutes is even more of an indictment for their loss in Game 2 when they blew a 20-point lead during of the last 22 minutes. If the Lakers had held on and won this game, this series would be tied 2-2, with the Lakers maintaining more momentum despite the Nuggets’ home court advantage.
“I obviously would like us to win (the series) 4-0,” Lakers guard Austin Reaves said. “The odds are not in our favor. But every time we manage to float above water, we have the opportunity to do something special. And we are ready to take on the challenge.
More than anything, the Lakers’ victory was important to their psyche.
Whether the Lakers admit it or not, the Nuggets were in their head to some extent. Every time a game got close or the Nuggets went on an extended run, the Lakers would start to tighten up and panic. Denver is the better team and, more importantly, the best team in times of crisis. But the Lakers should have won at least a few of those 11 straight losses.
That the Lakers were up to the challenge in Game 4, saving their season and finally eliminating some of the narratives associated with their Denver demons, is a testament to the fighting spirit and spirit of the group.
“Great day to be alive to stay alive,” Ham said. “That was the message yesterday and the message today. Just win one match. And we have to refocus, recalibrate and have the same mindset all the way to Denver.
James led the Lakers with a team-high 30 points (14-of-23 shooting), including 14 in the fourth quarter. Eighteen of his 23 shot attempts came in the paint, as he attacked the Nuggets with a steady diet of bully ball. He charged to the rim, posted shifts and hit turnaround jumpers. The 39-year-old superstar continues to track Jokić in pick-and-roll.
Davis had 25 points (11 of 17 shooting), the aforementioned 23 rebounds, a team-high six assists and a block in 42 minutes, a team-high. Jokić, who had 33 points, 14 rebounds and 14 assists on Saturday, was the best player in the series. He is the best player in the world and the favorite to win his third MVP. But Davis made the matchup more competitive than it was last season, matching and even surpassing his major league counterpart for stretches. For the series, Davis is averaging 30.5 points (on 62.2 percent shooting) and 15.8 rebounds per game.
“AD has nothing to prove to anyone,” James said. “He’s one of the best major players we have in the game, one of the best major players in the world. And he demonstrated it again during the first four games.
Reaves added 21 points and a team-high six assists. Hachimura had a series-high nine points in a season-low 22 minutes. Prince also had nine points in a series-high 29 minutes, including 17 in the second half.
But the swing performance came from Russell, who bounced back from his donut in Game 3 to score 21 points on 8-of-15 shooting, including four 3s. After benching Russell in Game 4 of the Conference Finals West last season, Ham stayed alongside Russell and kept him as a starter.
“I have a lot of confidence in him,” Ham said.
When relaying that message after the game, Russell, who declined two requests to speak to reporters after Game 3, provided a confident response.
“I appreciate it, but I believe in myself, simple as that, more than anyone,” Russell said. “I didn’t need it, but I appreciate it.”
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The Lakers did most of the little things well in Game 4. They cruised past Denver 46-40, limiting Denver forward Aaron Gordon to just three rebounds and zero rebounds after grabbing 15 and five, respectively, in Game 3. Los Angeles outscored Denver 14. -5 in second chance points. They also dominated the paint battle, outscoring the Nuggets 72-52.
No NBA team has ever come back from a 3-0 series deficit. But if there’s one player with considerable comeback experience, it’s James, who led the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 3-1 series comeback against the 73-win Golden State Warriors in of the 2016 NBA Finals. Similarly, James is the NBA’s all-time leader in 30-point performances in playoff games with 19.
“Monday’s game is the most important game of the season for us, and we understand that and we know that, so it’s at that point where you lose, you’re done,” James said. “You win and you move on.”
The Lakers are confident they can continue. At the same time, the fifth match will be their biggest test yet.
The Lakers are 0-3 in Denver this season and just 21-23 on the road (including the in-season tournament, Play-In tournament and playoffs). Denver will certainly have extra motivation after losing a closeout game and ultimately giving the Lakers life. The Ball Arena crowd will be champing at the bit to chant “Who’s your daddy?” » and end the Lakers season.
Despite the outcome of Game 5 and the series, Saturday’s victory removed a heavy mental hurdle from the losing streak and turned this series into a more normal basketball series.
“It’s tough to get swept,” Davis said. “No one wants that feeling, especially in the summer. You have to live with this feeling for the rest of the summer. So we didn’t talk about it. We know what’s at stake. No one wants that feeling in their mouth for the rest of the summer. The way we played tonight is the same way we have to play the rest of the series.
(Top photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
