For the first time in 47 years of presence in the NBA, Nikola Jokic's Nuggets will have the opportunity to win a title, after their impressive qualification in the finals at the expense of the Lakers swept 4-0, despite a great LeBron James, this Monday in the playoffs.
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The "King" did not want to abdicate and he did everything to get a reprieve in Los Angeles, achieving one of the most successful games of his already prodigious career, at 38 years old, with 31 of his 40 points scored in the first period alone (11/13 shooting!), a new personal best in a post-season game. Exhausted, he nevertheless failed at the buzzer to snatch the overtime.
In fact, Denver, the No. 1 seed in the West, was remarkable for its solidity and calm, even when the storm was blowing in the first half, closed 15 lengths behind without ever having been ahead in the score.
Back from the locker room, Michael Malone's men, who never panicked, sure of their collective strength, were much more conquering, like Nikola Jokic, author of 13 of his 30 points and who finished in triple-double (14 rbds, 13 assists), almost as usual.
The last few minutes were very tight. Anthony Davis (21 pts, 14 rbds, 3 blocks), too erased until then, finally got his muscles out, countering Jokic before dunking on him. The Serb had just picked up his fifth foul, but no Laker had the idea of tickling him in the last two minutes.
Nikola Jovic, once again decisive for his team. Gary A. Vasquez / REUTERS
And it was he, with 73 seconds left, who put the winning basket in force, seconds after an unlikely award-winning rainbow shot on one leg over Davis. "Me out of balance? I've been out of balance all my life, so that's normal for me," he joked afterwards.
The Serb was obviously not alone, as his four teammates scored between 13 and 25 points, Jamal Murray being the most prolific. And that's what made the difference, because Lebron James was an exemplary leader too lonely, limited to 9 points in the last two quarters (10 rbds, 9 assists).
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He played an extraordinary game, we couldn't stop him in the first half. Then we found a way to get him to take tougher shots. But he remains one of the best players in the history of this sport," Jokic said.
'A great collective effort'
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It's a great effort by the whole team. We don't give up. They jumped on us at the beginning, they were better, more aggressive, they scored easily. But (...) everyone rose to the occasion. It was a collective work," added the Serb.
For the Colorado franchise, this qualification is a sweet revenge taken on that of California, which blocked the road at this stage three times, in 1985, 2009 and 2020. The Nuggets had already failed for the first time in 1978 against the Seattle SuperSonics.
The challenge was too high for the Lakers, whose appearance in the conference finals was unthinkable this winter when they stuttered their basketball and vegetated for a time in 13th place. Strengthened by a successful transfer window in February, led by LeBron James and Anthony Davis, again healthy and dominant inside, they still had to go through the playoffs to reach the playoffs, before playing the ogres at the expense of the Grizzlies and eliminating the defending champion Warriors.
Lebron James (left) and Anthony Davis (right). HARRY HOW / AFP
Some saw them as favorites, with their experience, their thirst for victory found and the weight of history also -17 times champions, record shared with the Celtics. But they reached their glass ceiling against a talented Nuggets, better armed collectively, with no apparent weakness.
Fear never circulated in the veins of Michael Malone's players. They will have to stay icy in the finals to finally put Denver on the NBA map.
