Nuggets complete sweep of Lakers to reach 1st NBA Finals in franchise history

Nikola Jokic had 30 points, 14 rebounds and 13 assists, and the visiting Denver Nuggets advanced to the NBA Finals for the first time in team history Monday night, sweeping the Western Conference finals with a 113-111 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.

James finished with 40 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists after the highest-scoring postseason half of his career, but even the top scorer in NBA history couldn't keep the deep, dynamic Nuggets from their sixth consecutive victory overall.

James missed two tying shots in the final seconds, with Aaron Gordon appearing to block his shot at the buzzer.

Jokic earned his eighth triple-double of the playoffs by the third quarter, breaking Wilt Chamberlain's 1967 NBA record for triple-doubles in a single postseason.

With his eighth triple-double of the 2023 Playoffs, Nikola Jokić has set a record for the most triple-doubles in a single postseason (previously held by Wilt Chamberlain, seven in 1967). <a href="https://t.co/Uu1Xsm3Wdt">pic.twitter.com/Uu1Xsm3Wdt</a>

The Serbian big man also led the Nuggets' tenacious defensive effort despite picking up his fifth foul midway through the fourth quarter — and when Denver needed a big basket, Jokic delivered that as well.

The Lakers erased a seven-point deficit and tied it with five minutes to play, but Jokic hit a 25-foot fallaway 3-pointer. After Anthony Davis hit two free throws to tie it with 1:11 left, Jokic muscled his way past Davis for the tiebreaking layup.

BAAAANG ‼️ <a href="https://t.co/s5QeX65GA8">pic.twitter.com/s5QeX65GA8</a>

James then badly missed a strange fallaway jumper with 26 seconds left. After Murray missed a turnaround to give the Lakers one last chance, James' drive at the buzzer was thwarted by Murray and