The Lakers have been swept by the Nuggets in Game 4 after a 113-111 victory to the away side but LeBron definitely didn’t go down without a fight.
He had 21 points at the end of the first quarter, tied for the most in a first quarter when facing elimination by any player over the last 25 years, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.
He made all four of his three-point attempts and had 31 points by halftime, which was the most in a playoff half in his career.
With 4.0 seconds left to play in the fourth, the Lakers called timeout. James then attempted a drive but couldn’t get it off because Aaron Gordon blocked the attempt from below the basket.
LeBron also played the entire game at 38 years old, a huge feat, and also had ten rebounds and nine assists to go along with his 40-point haul.
He told reporters after the game that this Nuggets team is the best team he and Anthony Davis faced in the playoffs during their time at the Lakers.
“Probably the best team that we’ve played since we’ve been together for our four years,” LeBron said.
He ended the press conference in a cryptic way, which will have Lakers fans stressed.
“I got a lot to think about,” LeBron said. “… Just personally, with me moving forward with the game of basketball, I got a lot to think about.”
Davis was missing in parts of the game and finished with 21 points, 14 rebounds and one assist.
Darvin Ham on the Lakers’ focus going into the offseason: “Coming into next year, there’s gonna be expectations… I didn’t come here to have more wins than losses, or make a playoff round 1, or make a playoff run, I came to win.”