Staring at a legacy-defining and image-crushing sweep at the hands of the Denver Nuggets, LeBron James was in a heightened state of emotions in Game 4 of the playoff series on Saturday, April 27.
James and the Lakers have been getting cooked by fans for being 0-11 against the defending champion Nuggets in their last 11 games, including an embarrassing sweep last year in the Western Conference Finals.
Moreover, the Lakers’ nine-game playoff losing streak is the most in franchise history.
Therefore, fans can understand why James went volcanic after attempting a steal late in the game that supposedly went off the hands of the Nuggets player Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, a former Laker teammate of James.
James nearly earned a technical foul for his on-court theatrics.
Darvin Ham is definitely getting fired real soonpic.twitter.com/r49PMWAfGo https://t.co/9m7C5vlPvG
— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) April 28, 2024
This time, the Lakers did not give up a big lead and won the game 119-108 in Los Angeles to earn another chance to make history. No team has ever come back from a 0-3 hole to win any NBA playoff series.
Keep in mind, however, King James and the Cavs became the first squad to overcome a 1-3 hole when the Cavs defeated Steph Curry and the Warriors in the 2016 NBA Finals.
“We get another opportunity to go play one more game, and if we win, come back and play another one and keep moving from there,” Lakers guard Austin Reaves said afterward. “Odds aren’t stacked in our favor, but anytime we can keep ourselves floating above water and give ourselves an opportunity to do something special, we’re up for the challenge.”
Caleb Williams courtside at Lakers-Nuggets 🔥
(via @CHGO_Bears) pic.twitter.com/bJ1f1RYgJ3
— FanDuel (@FanDuel) April 28, 2024
Following the game that was attended by the NFL’s No. 1 draft pick Caleb Williams, coach Ham said the Lakers earned this victory.
“We deserved this tonight. We’ve just got to bottle it up and keep pushing and understand it can be our time. Why not us? Every new game is a new opportunity to be more competitive and more together and more selfless.”
