The Denver Nuggets made the Los Angeles Lakers work for it, even though the Lakers ended their season in last night’s Game 5. The Lakers needed everything they got from their two stars, particularly LeBron James, who had one of the best finishes ever in his career.
While James has plenty of excellent finishes to games, the way he closed out the Nuggets, with unassisted basket after unassisted basket, was something we’ve rarely seen from him in his historically great career. According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, the 12 points on unassisted baskets were tied for the most he’s ever had in the 4th quarter of a playoff game.
His final six made field goals in the fourth quarter were all unassisted, tied for the most solo shots he has made in the fourth quarter of a playoff game in his career, according to Second Spectrum data.
James closed out the game for the Lakers and now he’s earned himself an extra day of rest, perhaps more if the Celtics are able to extend the Eastern Conference Finals in Sunday night’s Game 6 against the Miami Heat.
