For the first time in their history, the Denver Nuggets are going to the NBA Finals.
With the Nuggets leading 3-0 and going for the sweep, it looked for much of Monday night’s Game 4 that the Los Angeles Lakers would send the Western Conference Finals series back to Denver for a Game 5. But despite trailing by 15 at halftime, the Nuggets came roaring back. Denver dominated the third quarter to take a five-point lead going into the fourth.
The fourth quarter was a back-and-forth affair. But an off-balance three-pointer from Nikola Jokić signaled that it might have just been Denver’s night.
An insane shot by Nikola Jokic as seen in slow mo, changed to a 3. 🏀🔥 pic.twitter.com/4mnqgGsUzq
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 23, 2023
Trailing by two with four seconds left, Los Angeles had a chance to tie — or even win the game at the end of the fourth quarter. LeBron James drove to his left and put up a shot, but it was blocked. With that, the Nuggets completed the four-game sweep.
"IT'S OVER! IT'S OVER! DENVER MAKES HISTORY! THE NUGGETS ARE GOING TO THE NBA FINALS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FRANCHISE HISTORY!"- Mike Breen 🏀🔥🎙️ pic.twitter.com/spfNokpFv1
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 23, 2023
Basketball reacted to the Nuggets sweeping LeBron James and the Lakers to reach their first NBA Finals.
Credit to the Nuggets. They were clearly the better team, start to finish.
A more than worthy conference champion.
— nick wright (@getnickwright) May 23, 2023
Hate that it ends like this, but lets not lose sight of the effort this team gave all year long
From 2-10 to the Conference Finals was an incredible turnaround and we fought til the last second
In the end, Nuggets were just better
— Lakers Nation (@LakersNation) May 23, 2023
The @nuggets just authored a history book in one night.
First-ever playoff series win over the Lakers.
First playoff sweep in franchise history.
First trip to the freaking NBA Finals.
And so it was written… pic.twitter.com/zGa5tuJgnZ
— Vic Lombardi (@VicLombardi) May 23, 2023
Nuggets join the KD-Curry Warriors and the Duncan Spurs as the only teams to sweep LeBron
Wow
— Zach Segars (@Zach_Segars) May 23, 2023
The Nuggets had to beat two opponents.
1. The Lakers
2. The refsAnd they swept them both. Technically that’s 8 wins. pic.twitter.com/QcNMg6Pr7I
— ThatsGoodSports (@BrandonPerna) May 23, 2023
The next step for Denver is the NBA Finals, which will begin on Thursday, June 1.
If the Miami Heat — who currently lead the Boston Celtics 3-0 in the Eastern Conference Finals — close that series out, the Nuggets will have home-court advantage in that series. Should the Celtics mount a comeback and beat the Heat, Boston will have home court.
The Nuggets, along with the San Antonio Spurs, Indiana Pacers and New York Nets (now Brooklyn Nets), joined the NBA in 1976 as part of the merger with the ABA. Denver is now the last of those teams to qualify for an NBA Finals.
