LOS ANGELES Lakers avoided an early exit in the NBA Western Conference first round series after a 119-108 Game 4 victory over Denver Nuggets on Saturday night (Sunday in the Philippines) at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California.
LeBron James led the way with 30 points, five rebounds, four assists, and three steals, while Anthony Davis posted a double-double of 25 points and 23 rebounds as the Lakers cut the series deficit to 1-3.
D’Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves also ended with 21 markers apiece for the Lakers, which ended its 11-game losing skid against the defending champions Nuggets.
Just like in the first three games of the series, the Lakers went on a strong start, leading 28-23 after the opening quarter and ahead 61-48 at the half before settling for a 91-80 advantage entering in the fourth quarter.
The Lakers went on to establish its biggest lead at 106-87 on a triple by Russell, the Nuggets made its last push at 103-111 on a layup by Jamal Murray, but free throws by Reaves sealed the win for LA.
Nikola JokiÄ tallied a triple-double of 33 points, 14 rebounds, and 14 assists, Michael Porter Jr. added a double-double of 27 points and 11 rebounds, and Murray and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope contributed 22 and 14, respectively, for the Nuggets.
Orlando Magic, meanwhile, turned things around in the second half to score a 112-89 win over Cleveland Cavaliers, tying its best-of-seven Eastern Conference first round series at 2-2.
Down 51-60 at the half, the Magic tightened its defense in the second half by holding the Cavaliers to just 29 points en route to a dominant 23-point victory at the Kia Center in Orlando, Florida.
Franz Wagner led the way for the Magic with a double-double of 34 points and 13 rebounds, Jonathan Isaac added 14 points, Jalen Suggs and Markelle Fultz had 12 each, and Wendell Carter Jr. contributed 11.
Oklahoma City Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves took commanding 3-0 lead in their Western Conference first round series after their separate Game 3 wins against New Orleans Pelicans (106-85) and Phoenix Suns (126-109).
Boston Celtics, Indiana Pacers, and Dallas Mavericks, on the other hand, grabbed 2-1 edges after their Game 3 triumphs over Miami Heat (), Milwaukee Bucks (121-118), and Los Angeles Clippers (101-90)./PN
BOX SCORE:
LOS ANGELES 119 — James 30, Davis 25, Russell 21, Reaves 21, Hachimura 9, Prince 9, Vincent 3, Dinwiddie 1, Hayes 0.
DENVER 108 — JokiÄ 33, Porter 27, Murray 22, Caldwell-Pope 14, Gordon 7, Holiday 3, Watson 2, Braun 0, Jackson 0.
Quarterscores: 28-23, 61-48, 91-80, 119-108.
