LOS Angeles Lakers are back to the National Basketball Association (NBA) Finals after a decade with a resounding 117-107 closer against Denver Nuggets in Game 5 of their Western Conference finals on Saturday night (Sunday in the Philippines).
LeBron James recorded his 27th post-season triple-double with 38 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists as he punctuated the Nuggetsâ hopes of recovering from another 1-3 series deficit with nine of the Lakersâ final 11 points late in the fourth quarter.
Anthony Davis chipped in 27 points while Alex Caruso and Daniel Green contributed 11 markers apiece for the Lakers.
As expected, it was not a walk in a park closer for the Lakers with the Nuggets channeling its ânever say dieâ mantra all Game 5 long in hopes of replicating its run against Utah Jazz in the first round and to Los Angeles Clippers in the West semis.
The Lakers were comfortably ahead at 72-56 early in the third period on two freebies by Davis, but the Nuggets mounted a huge run to tie the score at 84-all before Davis swished a triple to put LA on top, 87-84, after 36 minutes.
Los Angeles were just ahead 95-92 midway in the payoff period before unloading seven straight points â two free throws by Davis, a fade away by James and a triple by Davis â to stretch the lead to 102-92.
Denver had its last hurrah at 99-103 on a three-point play by Nikola JokiÄ before Los Angeles went for the kill with a Green triple and nine straight points from James for a 115-103 advantage with 1:57 left in the match.
JokiÄ and Jerami Grant each finished the match with 20 points while injury-hobbled Jamal Murray and Paul Millsap added 19 and 13 markers respectively for the Nuggets.
The Lakers will wait for the winner of the Boston Celtics-Miami Heat best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals series for their finals foe. The Celtics stayed alive with a 121-108 come-from-behind win over the Heat in Game 5 on Friday night (Saturday in the Philippines).
BOX SCORE:
LOS ANGELES 117 â James 38, Davis 27, Caruso 11, Green 11, Howard 9, Rondo 8, Kuzma 8, Morris 3, Caldwell-Pope 2, McGee 0.
DENVER 107 â JokiÄ 20, Grant 20, Murray 19, Millsap 13, Morris 10, Porter 10, Plumlee 7, Dozier 5, Harris 3, Craig 0.
QUARTERSCORES:
Q1, 33-30; Q2, 61-51; Q3, 87-84; Q4, 117-107./PN