The Denver Nuggets sweep the Los Angeles Lakers and advance to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history

(CNN) — The Denver Nuggets rallied from a 15-point deficit at halftime to complete a four-game sweep of the Los Angeles Lakers with a 113-111 victory Monday night to advance to the NBA Finals for the first time in 47 years. of franchise history.

Center Nikola Jokic had 30 points, 14 rebounds and 13 assists in the win at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The triple-double is Jokic’s eighth this postseason, moving him ahead of Wilt Chamberlain for the player with the most triples in a single tie.

Jokic, a two-time MVP, hit the game-winning basket with less than a minute left in the game to put the Nuggets ahead 113-111. On defense, Denver was twice able to prevent Lakers superstar LeBron James from tying the score, most recently when Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon blocked James’ layup attempt as time expired in the final. party possession.

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic collides with Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James in the second half of Game 4. (Credit: Ashley Landis/AP)

James, who scored 21 points in the first quarter, finished with 40 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists in the loss.

The Nuggets, seeded in the Western Conference, will next face the winner of the Eastern Conference finals between the Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics. The Heat lead the series 3-0 and could eliminate the Celtics on Tuesday night in Miami.

Before this Monday, the Nuggets had reached the conference finals five times (1978, 1985, 2009, 2020), losing all four to the Lakers.