Initial observations from Los Angeles after Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals between the Nuggets and Lakers.
1. Aaron Gordon’s arrival: All five Denver starters were in double figures by the end of the third quarter, an impressive team effort from the top seed in the West. The most notable stat line among those five: Gordon’s 22-point night came on top of the first three games of the series when he averaged 9.7 points, well down from his regular-season average of just over 16 points. Game 4 revealed a suddenly far more willing aggressor in Gordon, pulling the trigger confidently when the Lakers dared him to shoot and attacking when he saw an opening.
2. Theme of Denver’s comeback quarter: As the Nuggets erased a 15-point halftime deficit to take their first lead of Game 4 with 4:39 remaining in the third quarter, LeBron James did not score a point. Consider the stark contrast: The first 24 minutes Monday marked LeBron’s highest point total in a single half of a playoff game in his 20-year career. His 31 points were characterized by a shift in his 3-point shooting so dramatic that he drained a long-range shot while trying to throw an alley-oop lob. The 38-year-old was carrying the Lakers until the Nuggets decided to tighten up their defensive intensity.
3. Different lineup looks: The Nuggets went only seven deep, contrary to Michael Malone’s promise before the series that he would reach as far as he needed into his bench. For the first time in the WCF, he sat rookie Christian Braun, who is 0 for 4 in the series including 0 for 3 from outside. His minutes dropped from 12 minutes to the 3-4 minute range after Game 1. The Lakers went eight deep but with a wrinkle. They gave Tristan Thompson a small dose of nine minutes — he even did the halftime interview with ESPN — but interestingly didn’t play Jarred Vanderbilt, who started Games 2 and 3. D’Angelo Russell was also moved out of the starting lineup after a detrimental three games. Rui Hachimura started in his place as coach Darvin Ham stuck with the bigger quintet he had preferred when Vanderbilt was starting.
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