47 years in the making.
The Denver Nuggets will move into the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history, sweeping the Los Angeles Lakers with a 113-111 win in Game 4 of the 2023 Western Conference Finals on Monday.
The Nuggets managed to come back from a 15-point deficit in the first half, as they shone in a 36-point third frame and a 55-point second inning to book their spot as the West’s representative in the Championship Round.
Nikola Jokic, who was named the Magic Johnson Western Conference Finals MVP, had another masterpiece with a triple-double, scoring 34 points, 14 boards and 13 assists while shooting a clutch with 51.7 to put the Nuggets ahead with two.
Jamal Murray added 25 points, Aaron Gordon scored 22 thanks to his stellar defensive play, and Michael Porter Jr. scored 15 points.
LeBron James had an amazing night with 40 points and 30 drains per half. Demolished for a potential game-tying shot, he was pinned by the Nuggets on the final play and went on to drift in a best-of-seven series for the third time in his career.
The Nuggets have been through a lot in their 47 seasons in the league and have been denied by the Lakers in four of their previous Conference Finals encounters. But this season is now their own as the new Kings of the West. Their wait for a chance to enter the NBA Finals for the first time is the third longest in the history of the NBA, NHL, and MLB, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
While Denver is now marching for that elusive title, they are now edging away from the Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Charlotte Hornets, Minnesota Timberwolves and New Orleans Pelicans as the only teams not yet in the NBA Finals.
The Nuggets will likely gear up and prepare to take on the eighth-seeded Miami Heat for the championship game, as the club holds a 3-0 series lead against the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Game 1 of the 2023 NBA Finals is scheduled to begin on June 1.