Following the Lakers’ sweep in the Western Conference Finals by the Nuggets, NBA legend Magic Johnson took to Twitter to offer his congratulations to the Nuggets and praise the standout performances of their star player, Nikola Jokic.
Johnson’s first tweet acknowledged the Nuggets’ achievement of reaching the NBA Finals: “Congratulations to Denver Nuggets Owner Stan Kroenke, Head Coach Michael Malone and the coaching staff, Nikola Jokic, and the entire Nuggets team, the city of Denver, CO, and all Nuggets fans for advancing to the NBA Finals!”
He continued his tribute by recognizing Jokic’s outstanding contribution and breaking Wilt Chamberlain’s single-season playoff triple-double record: “Congratulations to Nikola Jokic for advancing to the Finals and breaking Wilt Chamberlain’s single-season playoff triple-double record with a 30 point, 14 rebound, and 13 assist performance tonight!”
Despite the Lakers’ disappointing series, Johnson remained optimistic about the team’s future, highlighting the coaching prowess of Darvin Ham, the presence of superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis, and the emergence of young talents Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura. He expressed hope that Lakers’ General Manager Rob Pelinka would capitalize on this playoff run and bolster the team’s roster during the offseason.
The Nuggets’ sweep of the Lakers was propelled by Jokic’s stellar performance in Game 4, where he recorded his eighth triple-double of the playoffs, surpassing Chamberlain’s record. Jokic’s resilience, combined with the tenacity of his teammates, propelled the Nuggets to their first-ever conference title in their 47 seasons as a franchise.
While the Lakers showcased an impressive first-half performance led by James, the Nuggets mounted a remarkable comeback in the third quarter to secure the victory. Despite a valiant effort by James and Davis, the Lakers fell short, resulting in their first-ever playoff series sweep.
