Coming into Saturday's game against the defending champs, the Los Angeles Lakers were on the verge of being swept and many fans had already lost hope of seeing another win this season. Yet, somehow, the Lakers managed to win Game 4 to end their losing streak against Nikola Jokic (final score 119-108) and extend their season for another game.
Dig deep and fight back. #LakersWin pic.twitter.com/Jsuj2mjQLP
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) April 28, 2024
Say what you want about the Lakers, but it takes determination to keep fighting in a series that history says is already over. Even after their victory tonight, the Nuggets are and should be expected to win on Monday and it will be all they need to advance to the next round. For now, however, Lakers Nation is just celebrating any win they can get, no matter how temporary.
WE WAITED 500 DAYS BUT THE LAKERS HAVE FINALLY BEATEN THE NUGGETS pic.twitter.com/diD8HyGH0c
— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) April 28, 2024
It was an all-around impressive effort from multiple players across the roster, but Anthony Davis stole the show with 25 points, 22 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1 block in 40 minutes of action. He was deep in his bag tonight and managed to keep up with the Joker, who dropped a triple-double with 33 points, 14 rebounds, and 14 assists on 50% shooting.
anthony davis really just raises his level of the play every season in the playoffs and ppl act like this dude isn’t all time great
— Coach Rome (@Rome_Beast) April 28, 2024
nikola jokic easily one of the best we’ve ever seen and he has absolutely nothing for AD
this guys generational
Still on the brink of elimination, the Lakers are not yet out of the woods. In fact, with three more games to win, history says that the Purple and Gold are still almost sure to lose the series before they can reach Game 7. Even so, they were able to show some fight tonight and go out with some dignity by avoiding the sweep.
Let this be a lesson.
— Barry (@BarryOnHere) April 28, 2024
NOBODY beats the Lakers 12 times in a row. NOBODY.
With Game 5 set for Monday, LeBron and the crew won't have long to reflect on this victory before they have to fight for their season once again. Against a bigger, deeper, and more talented Nuggets team, the odds are stacked against LA to make history and become the first team ever to come back after losing the first three games but they are taking it one game at a time and fans are feeling hopeful again for the first time since the series began.
LeBron and the Lakers avoiding elimination from the playoffs tonight pic.twitter.com/ndfPJEKnVm
— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) April 28, 2024
It remains to be seen if the Lakers can sustain this level of play in Game 5 but it will take an effort like this one to beat the Nuggets again, especially on their home court, where the Lakers would have to win twice in order to win the series. At the very least, they'll need another monster game from Anthony Davis, who is the only one keeping them relevant right now.
Since his arrival to the team years ago, fans have been clamoring for Anthony Davis to step up and take his rightful place as leader of the Lakers. For most of his time here, he's played second-fiddle to LeBron James as he's struggled to stay healthy and available on the court.
This season has been one of Davis' best and it seems he's having another breakthrough at this mid-point of his career. After averaging 24.7 points and 12.6 rebounds in the regular season, the star big man has been on fire through the first four games against Denver and his dominance in the frontcourt has challenged the Nuggets' defense.
If Davis can continue this momentum and carry this dominance over into the next game, it might be enough to make this a real series and things could get mighty interesting if they win again on Monday. For now, however, this series is chalked up as a lost cause for the Purple and Gold and it will take nothing short of a miracle. to keep their season alive past the next week.
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