The Lakers avoided a second consecutive sweep by the Denver Nuggets, building a double-digit lead for the fourth consecutive game in their NBA Western Conference first-round playoff series, but were able hold it in a 119-108 victory Saturday evening at Crypto.com Arena.
The Lakers never trailed and led for the final 42 minutes, 54 seconds, cutting Denver’s lead to three games to one. Game 5 will be played Monday in Denver.
None of the previous 151 NBA teams that have lost the first three games of a best-of-seven series has gone on to win the series.
The victory ended the Lakers’ 11-game losing streak against the Nuggets, including a sweep in last season’s conference finals en route to their first NBA championship.
LeBron James led four Lakers in double figures with 30 points, while Anthony Davis scored 25, pulled down a playoff-career high 23 rebounds and had a team-high equaling six assists.
D’Angelo Russell bounced back from a scoreless game with 21 points, including a game-high equaling four 3-point baskets, while Austin Reaves also scored 21 and had six assists.
Russell had a game-best plus-15 plus/minutes, meaning the Lakers outscored Denver by 15 in the 40:58 he was on the court. Rui Hachimura was plus-13, Davis plus-11 and James and Reaves both plus-1.
The Lakers outscored the Nuggets 28-23 in the first quarter, with Davis scoring eight points on 4-for-5 shooting and pulling down seven rebounds and James and Reaves both scoring six.
The Lakers took their first double-digit leader 4:24 before halftime when Reaves scored seven consecutive points on a 27-foot 3-point basket, a 12-foot step back bank shot and two free throws, increasing their lead to 48-37.
The Lakers led 61-48 at halftime and led by at least seven and as many as 15 in the third quarter.
The Lakers were outscored 32-30 in the third quarter, as Michael Porter Jr. scored 15 point and Nikola Jokic 10, but Denver was only able to cut the deficit to 91-80.
The Lakers took their biggest lead, 106-87, after Russell completed a 7-0 run with a 3-point basket with 5:58 to play.
The Nuggets cut the deficit to seven, 113-106, on Jokic’s 3-point play with 1:25 left, but could not pull any closer.
The Lakers made 48 of 92 shots, 52.2%, including 8 of 26 3-point shots, 30.8%. Denver made 39 of 87 shots, 44.8%, including 9 of 30 3-point shots, 30%. The Lakers made 15 of 18 free throws, 83.3%, the Nuggets, 21 of 25, 84%.
The Lakers led 46-40 in rebounds. The Lakers committed 12 turnovers which Denver converted to 12 points. The Nuggets committed 14 turnovers which the Lakers converted into 13 points.
Jokic had 33 points and 14 assists, both game highs, and a team-high 14 rebounds. Porter added 27 and Jamal Murray 22.