The Denver Nuggets have achieved something that eluded them for 47 years – making the NBA Finals. On Monday night, they clinched their first-ever finals appearance with a thrilling 113-111 win over the Lakers in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals. It was yet another tight game in an intense series, as the Nuggets fought back from a 15-point halftime deficit with a dominant third quarter performance. Leading the way was Nikola Jokic, who put up an impressive stat line of 30 points, 14 rebounds, and 13 assists on his way to being named MVP of the series.
The Serbian 7ft giant’s shot-making prowess has been one of his most underrated skills, and it was fully on display against LA. His late fourth quarter step back three over Anthony Davis was simply breathtaking, and had it been Steph Curry pulling off that move it would have been considered amazing. That wasn’t even Jokic’s best shot of the game though – he also managed to hit a one-footer fallaway jumper from way out there in the second quarter.
NIKOLA JOKIC 🤯
WILD FINISH IN LOS ANGELES.
Get to ESPN for the final 2:01… Denver leads by 3! pic.twitter.com/NWTGIROfNE
— NBA (@NBA) May 23, 2023
Jokic transforming into Jake Shuttlesworth with this shot is amazing and hilarious at the same time… pic.twitter.com/nhd3mexkm0
— Camron Smith (@camronsmith) May 23, 2023
Not only did Denver beat LeBron James and Anthony Davis – they swept them! The entire team is in high spirits right now; with Jokic playing at an otherworldly level this postseason, anything seems possible for them moving forward. This will be their first ever trip to the NBA Finals and they will no doubt be determined to make it count – they could be set for a historic run. Personally, I still don’t watch the NBA because of how woke they’ve gone, but I’m definitely glad that one of the wokest teams in the NBA isn’t going to be playing in the finals. I am also happy that LeBron James not only isn’t going to play in the finals, but I’m glad that he also missed the game tying shot that could have changed things.
