LeBron James scores 30, Lakers avoid elimination in win over Nuggets

 

The Los Angeles Lakers finally cracked the Denver Nuggets' mastery of this rivalry and extended their playoff lives for at least another game.

To absolutely nobody's surprise, LeBron James led the way.

James scored 30 points, Anthony Davis added 25 points and 23 rebounds, and the Lakers avoided postseason elimination with a 119-108 victory over Denver in Game 4 of their first-round series Saturday night.

D'Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves scored 21 points apiece for the seventh-seeded Lakers, who snapped their 11-game losing streak against the defending NBA champions with their first win over the Nuggets since December 2022.

Los Angeles (AP) — The Denver Nuggets' dominance over this rivalry was eventually broken by the Los Angeles Lakers, extending their postseason chances for at least one more game.


It surprised no one at all that LeBron James led the way.

In Game 4 of their first-round series against Denver on Saturday night, the Lakers defeated the Nuggets 119-108 to prevent elimination from the postseason. James scored 30 points, while Anthony Davis contributed 25 points and 23 rebounds.

The seventh-seeded Lakers defeated the Nuggets for the first time since December 2022, ending an 11-game losing run against the reigning NBA champions thanks to 21 points apiece from D'Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves.


Finally, a sequence of observable rhythms and patterns shifted in favour of the Lakers. Los Angeles took a double-digit lead for the fourth game in a row.

“We've given ourselves another lifeline, and it's a one-game series for us,” James said. “Monday's game is the most important game of the season for us, and we understand that.”

 Last season, Denver easily eliminated Los Angeles from the Western Conference finals, but the Lakers this year responded to this 0-3 disadvantage with a play more befitting of a team that finished with 12 victories in 15 games and qualified for the postseason.