For the first time since December 16, 2022, the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Denver Nuggets for the first time in 498 days.

With a 119-108 victory against the Denver Nuggets in Game 4 of their first-round series on Saturday night, the Los Angeles Lakers avoided a sweep and elimination from the postseason.

The Lakers haven’t defeated the Nuggets in 498 days with this victory; their most recent triumph against Denver came on December 16, 2022. The victory had additional significance because of the recollection of Denver sweeping them out of the Western Conference finals the previous season.

“We’re finally winning against this team, which is a beautiful thing,” Lakers head coach Darvin Ham remarked. “Now that we’ve finally quote-on-quote ‘cracked the code,’ we still have to understand that this is a championship ball club we’re facing.”

With 30 points, LeBron James took the lead and was aided by Anthony Davis, who scored 25 points and pulled down 23 rebounds.

Though Nikola Jokic put on an incredible display with 33 points, 14 rebounds, and 14 assists—his 18th career triple-double and second in this series—the Nuggets were unable to reclaim their customary late-game supremacy over the Lakers.

Davis stated prior to win 4 that “we just tried to get one game and go from there.” We are aware of our 11-game losing streak. That is not something we should concentrate on.

With Game 5 set to begin on Monday at the Ball Arena in Denver, the series is officially back in Denver.

James stated, “For us, it’s a one-game series.” Thus, for us, Monday’s game is the most crucial of the entire campaign. We understand the stakes. We head back home if we lose.