LOS ANGELES — LeBron James pleaded for a call, while Nikola Jokiu0107 raised his weary arms in victory — no matter the game, the Joker trumps a King, even if the King gets off to a rousing start.
The Denver Nuggets advanced to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history, completing what some will call an improbable sweep against the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night in another thriller, a 113-111 Game 4 win at Crypto.com Arena.
The Nuggets are the first team to reach the Finals this season because of basic tenets that have carried them throughout the entire year — a professional approach that allowed them to withstand an emotional barrage from James and holding themselves accountable for their first real lackluster effort in the playoffs.