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The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the defending champions, Denver Nuggets, 119-108 in Game 4 to stave off 2024 NBA Playoffs elimination in Round 1. With this win, LeBron James' side also snapped their 11-game losing streak against the Nuggets. However, the NBA's all-time leading scorer appeared to be highly frustrated with Darwin Ham and other Lakers coaches for not challenging a controversial call.
The Lakers maintained a lead over the Nuggets throughout the game as Anthony Davis became the only third Lakers star to register 20+ points, 20+ rebounds, and 5+ assists on 60+ FG% in a postseason game, joining Shaquille O'Neal and Wilt Chamberlain.
With 9:10 remaining in the game, the referee awarded the ball to the Nuggets in their offensive half after LeBron was deemed to have knocked the ball out of bounds. However, King James continuously asked the Lakers coaches to challenge the call but nobody paid attention, which left LeBron infuriated.
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Watch LeBron James furious at Lakers coaches:
When the incident occurred, the Lakers were leading the Nuggets 95-80. Later, a slow-motion video of the incident suggested that LeBron made no contact with the ball as it was poked out by the Nuggets guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
Watch the video here:
After the wrong call, Lebron James brought his A-game as he scored 14 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter while shooting 6/8 from the field. Apart from James and Davis, Lakers guards Austin Reaves and D'Angelo Russell registered 21 points each in the Lakers' win against Denver.
For the Nuggets, Nikola Jokic again came up big with 33 points, 14 rebounds, and 14 assists, recording his 18th career postseason triple-double. The Lakers and the Nuggets will meet for Game 5 at the Ball Arena on Monday, April 29.