Nikola Jokic compiled 30 factors, 14 rebounds and 13 assists because the visiting Denver Nuggets superior to the NBA Finals for the primary time in franchise historical past with a 113-111 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday.
Jokic, the NBA MVP within the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons, set a file for complete triple-doubles in a single playoffs with eight. He had been tied with Wilt Chamberlain, who had seven for the Philadelphia 76ers in 1967.
Jamal Murray scored 25 factors and Aaron Gordon added 22 for the Nuggets, who trailed by 15 factors at halftime and weathered a 31-point first half from Lakers star LeBron James.
Denver swept the sequence after shedding as soon as within the first spherical to the Minnesota Timberwolves and twice within the second spherical to the Phoenix Suns.
The Western Conference’s high seed will now await the winner of the Eastern Conference finals, wherein the Miami Heat have a 3-0 lead over the Boston Celtics. There has by no means been a pair of conference-finals sweeps in NBA historical past.
Game 1 of the NBA Finals is scheduled for June 1 in Denver or Boston.
James completed with 40 factors, 10 rebounds and 9 assists, cooling off from a 21-point first quarter when he was 7 of 9 from the sphere and 4 of 4 from 3-point vary. He performed all however 4.3 seconds within the sport whereas setting a playoff profession excessive for factors throughout any half.
James’ last-second shot try inside to tie the sport was blocked by Gordon.
Anthony Davis scored 21 factors and grabbed 14 rebounds for Los Angeles, whereas Austin Reaves had 17 factors, Dennis Schroder added 13 and Rui Hachimura contributed 10.
The Nuggets opened the second half with a 9-2 run to tug inside 75-67. They bought to inside 79-78 with 6:27 remaining within the third quarter on a jumper from Murray and pulled in entrance 83-81 on a three-point play by Kentavious Caldwell Pope with 4:39 remaining within the third.
Denver led 94-89 coming into the ultimate interval, with Jokic already having recorded his triple-double.
The Lakers tied the sport 102-102 on a put-back dunk by Davis with 5:02 remaining. However, Murray was fouled on a 3-point try and made all three foul photographs, the Lakers had consecutive misses from 3-point vary and Gordon’s dunk put Denver up 107-102 with 3:34 left.
Los Angeles got here again once more to tie the sport 111-111 on a pair of Davis free throws with 1:13 remaining earlier than Jokic put the Nuggets again on high 113-111 on a layup with 51.7 seconds remaining. Neither workforce scored once more.
