The Los Angeles Lakers qualified for their first NBA Final since 2010 (4 wins to 1) thanks to their success in Game 5 of the Western Conference Final against the Denver Nuggets (117-107). Carried by an exceptional LeBron James in the last minutes, the Lakers managed to discourage the Nuggets who nevertheless tried almost everything to the end, despite a Nikola Jokic limited by faults and a Jamal Murray diminished by his painful right knee.
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Several times the scenario of the match gave the impression of tipping in one direction then the other. The Lakers appeared in control for the first thirty minutes, increasing the gap to 16 points (72-56, 29th). But as in matches 5 against Utah then the Clippers in the previous rounds (respectively 15 and 16 points behind), the Nuggets returned to the charge. Jerami Grant (20 points, 9 rebounds) kept Denver in the game with two important three-pointers midway through the third quarter, adding an interception and a defensive block on the same streak. He threw a 21-8 for his team before two free throws from Murray (19 points, 8 assists) put the two teams tied (84-84) at the very end of the third period.
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LeBron James folded the match on his own
The Angelenos reacted immediately. One second from the siren, Anthony Davis (27 points) scored a first three points and from the first possession of the 4th quarter, Kyle Kuzma went from his own (90-84, 37th). James, he began to warm up gently, obtaining two baskets plus the fault (39th) to continue to repel the opposing assaults.
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But, as Denver did not seem really decided to leave the bubble, Jokic reducing the gap to four units (103-99, 44th), the “King” has shifted the gear, like this he played defensively in Game 4. This time, he shone in attack. In the space of 2’23 ”, he distributed an assist for an award-winning basket from Danny Green then scored nine points without help from anyone to permanently knock out Denver (115-103, 47th). “My teammates told me to get them to the end, he explained. It’s my responsibility to do the right thing on the pitch to help us win. We have a few guys who have never reached the final before, so I wanted to take on this responsibility. “ He thus put the finishing touches to a mammoth triple double: 38 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists.
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27
LeBron James signed the 27th play-off triple double of his career in Game 5 against Denver. It is now only three lengths to equal the record holder in this area: Magic Johnson.
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James can now look to his tenth personal final, the ninth since 2011 (he only missed that of 2019). For Anthony Davis, last summer’s flagship rookie, this will be the very first. “We will appreciate this evening because it is not cheap. There are only two teams that go to the final each year and we don’t take any of that for granted. But we keep in mind that there are bigger things to accomplish ”, warned James who is aiming for a fourth title with a third different franchise (Miami, Cleveland). It would be unheard of for a player of his stature.
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