By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The Denver Nuggets entered Game 4 with a chance to sweep the Los Angeles Lakers but did not get the job done on NBA Saturdays.
“We have another opportunity in two days on our home court,” reacted Nikola Jokic after posting a triple-double in a losing effort in Crypto.com Arena. The Serbian superstar referred to Game 5 in Ball Arena on Monday.
In Game 4, Jokic ended up with 33 points, 14 assists, 14 rebounds, one steal, and one block. He was not enough to guide his side to extend the streak in the head-to-head series by punching in yet another comeback win, similar to Game 1 through Game 3 of a best-of-seven series in the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs presented by Google Pixel.
“I learned in horse racing, it is not how you start, it is how you finish,” he replied to a question about the Nuggets falling into double-digit deficits across all four meetings with the Lakers in the Western Conference Quarterfinals.
“I mean, we did not finish really well today. Hopefully, we can do a better job. But yes, we want to be up and control of the game,” added Jokic.
So far in the series against the Lakers, the Joker averaged 29.0 points and 15.3 rebounds per contest for the defending NBA champions.
“The paint was a joke,” head coach Michael Malone pointed to the lack of effective defense in the paint as the reason behind dropping Game 4.