LeBron James says the Los Angeles Lakers were granted “another life” by winning Game 4 against the Denver Nuggets Saturday night.
James scored 30 points to lead the Lakers to a 119-108 victory. The Nuggets lead the series, 3-1.
“The only opportunity for us is just to play the next game,” James said after the game (2:20 mark). “We’ve given ourselves another life, given ourselves another lifeline.
“It’s a one-game series for us… Monday’s game is the most important game of the season for us, and we understand that, and we know that.”
James pointed to the third quarter as a pivotal point in the victory.
The Lakers entered the quarter with a 13-point advantage, and ended it still leading by 11.
The ability to maintain the late advantage was a relief for a Lakers team that gained, and lost, double-digit leads in each of the first three games of the series.
“We’ve had a lead in a lot of these games, and then the second half, they’ve jumped on us,” James said. “And even though they outscored us by two, we scored with them.
“That definitely helped us going into the fourth, and then the fourth, for me, is just a mindset to try to close it out. Make plays, make winning plays, and I was able to make a few.”
Anthony Davis contributed 25 points and 23 rebounds, while D’Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves each finished with 21 points to help carry the Lakers to victory.
As a team, the Lakers shot 52.2 percent from the field while out-rebounding the Nuggets, 46 to 40.
James says the Lakers will need a similarly sustained effort in order to defeat the Nuggets again in Game 5.
“They’re going to make adjustments,” James said. “They’re a great team. They’re super well-coached. We have to be able to counter their attack, but also come in with the same mindset, we have to sustain our effort, we have to sustain our energy.”
After facing the prospect of a sweep by Denver for the second consecutive postseason, and with rumors of locker room tension rising after the first three losses, Saturday night’s victory has given Los Angeles hope. James and the Lakers will now see if they can extend their season further with a Game 5 victory on the road.
