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If you had informed me at the start of this NBA season that come May, the 2 groups taking part in within the Western Conference Finals can be the Denver Nuggets and the Los Angeles Lakers, I\u2019d have mentioned, \u201cSure, but who did the Lakers trade for and who did they have to give up?\u201d And had you responded, \u201cThey got D\u2019Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley, and Jarred Vanderbilt,\u201d I’d have laughed and informed you that wasn\u2019t sufficient. <\/p>\n
And but, right here we’re. May has come, and positive sufficient, these gamers play for the Lakers, and people Lakers will meet the Denver Nuggets within the Western Conference Finals. They dealt with enterprise at dwelling on Friday evening to shut out the Golden State Warriors<\/a> in a blowout. They by no means trailed, led by as many as 24, and totally outplayed the defending champs to clinch a shot to advance to the Finals for the primary time because the 2020 bubble. No, it hasn\u2019t been lengthy. But given the ups and downs this crew has endured over the course of the previous few years since that title, it feels just like the layoff has gone fairly a bit longer.<\/p>\n LeBron James led the best way with 30 factors, 9 rebounds, and 9 assists, whereas a probably-concussed Anthony Davis had 17 factors and 20 rebounds. Austin Reaves added 23 factors and 6 assists, together with 5 rebounds. The Lakers improved to 7-0 at dwelling because the finish of the common season. They additionally managed to snap Golden State\u2019s \u2014 and Steph Curry\u2019s \u2014 streak of 28 playoff sequence with a minimum of one street victory. <\/p>\n The Lakers are the primary crew since 2014<\/em> to get rid of Curry\u2019s Warriors from the playoffs earlier than the NBA Finals<\/a>. The famous person dropped 32 factors, however he missed 10 of 14 triples. Klay Thompson went three-for-19 from the sphere. A repeat simply wasn\u2019t meant to be. <\/p>\n