The Lakers are 1 win away from advancing to the NBA Finals

By Fredo Cervantes

Anthony Davis started the game with his special “AD Sauce” on the Nuggets as he is shooting 6-6 from the field with 12 points in the first four minutes of the game,  a good sign for the Los Angeles Lakers here in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals.

The Los Angeles Lakers are moving Dwight Howard into starting lineup for Game 4 vs. the Nuggets, replacing JaVale McGee.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 25, 2020

As the first quarter went on the the Lakers Duo of Anthony Davis and LeBron James have a combined of 21 points in the first 10 minutes of play with Dwight Howard having a dominant performance with eight early points and eight rebounds late in the first quarter as “Prime Dwight” was trending on Twitter as he gets his first start in the playoffs.

Nuggets guard Jamal Murray also had a great start of his own with 12 points on 6-7 shooting from the field as he’s been the only energy coming from the Nuggets in the first quarter. Murray had some interesting comments after Game 3 saying that they should be up 2-1 in this series. The way the Lakers came out to play in the first quarter of Game 4 shows that they took that comment personal.

HOW JAMAL!? 🤯 pic.twitter.com/BETls5QB2c

— NBA TV (@NBATV) September 25, 2020

During the 2nd quarter the Lakers took a 10-point lead and one of the reasons why the Nuggets aren’t playing well is because of the play by Nikola Jokic and Paul Millsap getting in early foul trouble. Nuggets had seven turnovers and only two fast break points here late in the first half. Lakers center Dwight Howard has been great in the first half as he now has a double double with 11 points and 10 rebounds, as he gets his first start after Lakers coach Frank Vogel made the decision to sit Javale McGee in Game 4.

Lakers lead the Nuggets 60-55 at halftime behind 19 points from Anthony Davis as the Nuggets have found some energy in this game within the team to stay in this game as they were down as much as 12 in the first half.

Dwight takes flight and JR hits him with the Superman celebration 😂

(📺: TNT) pic.twitter.com/K2rITjneM4

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) September 25, 2020

Paul Millsap picked up his 4th foul of the game as the 3rd quarter began which led to him going back to sit on the bench, as he’s one of the Nuggets best defenders. The Lakers have scored 20 points on second chance points and the Nuggets have scored just 2 with the Lakers coming out with more poise and take an 11-point lead late in the 3rd quarter. Nuggets made a small run to cut the lead heading into the 4th.

Starting in the 4th quarter, with the game on the line, the Nuggets were trying to steal another game from the heavy favorites in the Lakers in Game 4 of the WCF. Lakers Coach Frank Vogel made a smart move as he brought in Anthony Davis a little earlier than usual as the game is up for grabs for either team. Davis was playing great in Game 4 with 29 points on 9-14 shooting from the field but had little rebounds.

There was a scary moment for Davis in the 4th quarter as he got fouled shooting a shot from the elbow and came down wrong on side if his ankle. He went down in pain and the Lakers are forced to call a time out. Lakers fans all over the world breathed a huge sigh of relief when they saw AD back at the charity stripe post time-out.

Davis will have 2 FT’s with 6:44 left here, trying to add to LAL’s 4-point lead. He’s been on his feet throughout the time out, testing that ankle.

— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) September 25, 2020

Nikola Jokic checked back in the game with 5:46 remaining in the game as the Lakers lead 100-96 in Game 4. The Lakers made the first challenge of the game as LeBron fouls Jamal Murray and Lakers Coach was not happy about the call as it was an unsuccessful challenge by the Lakers.

LeBron took on the challenge of guarding Jamal Murray in the 4th quarter as he’s doing a great job making other in the team score and make plays for each other. The Lakers played tremendous defense late in the 4th quarter as they put a stop on the Nuggets comeback with LeBron switching on Murray.

LeBron James has 26 points nine rebounds and eight assists and Anthony Davis racked up 34 points on 10-15 from the field. Rajon Rondo has been great with his playoff experience as he put up 11 points, seven assists, and five rebounds in 21 minutes. Jamal Murray played 44 minutes with 32 points and eight assists and Nikola Jokic not having a great game as he struggled again in Game 4 ending up with 16 points and seven rebounds in 35 minutes.

The Lakers are 52-0 this season when leading going into the 4th quarter 😳

That's the best record ever in the shot clock era. (via @EliasSports) pic.twitter.com/8COd3oYRhj

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 25, 2020

Lakers win 114-108 over the Nuggets in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals as the Lakers take a 3-1 series lead and now look forward to Saturday night as they look to close this series 9ET/6PT on TNT.

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