EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — It made sense. So much, actually.
LeBron James was, of course, meant to be the one to carry the Lakers to their first NBA Finals since 2010.
He scored 16 points in the fourth quarter as the Lakers pulled away from a tight game to eliminate the Denver Nuggets with a 117-107 victory Saturday in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals.
All James did was put together a 38-point, 16-rebound, 10-assist effort. Worth noting: He’s a few months from his 36th birthday. Also worth noting: He’s got the Lakers in the Finals in only his second season with the franchise.
“My teammates said, ‘Bring us home,’” James said of his clutch fourth quarter. “My shoulders [are] wide enough to carry a large load, but my mind is stronger.”
No denying his broad shoulders. And no preventing from the 10th Finals appearance in his career.
“He’s a special guy, man,” forward Danny Green said. “He’s the greatest player in the…world, and he’s been doing it for 17 years.”
The Finals start Wednesday or Friday, depending on the length of the Eastern Conference finals. Miami leads Boston, 3-2, with Game 6 on Sunday.
The Lakers lost almost all of a 16-point lead against Denver and were ahead only three going into the fourth quarter.
James seemed nervous with the game on the line.
Just kidding.
He missed a three-point shot early in the quarter but made seven of his next nine attempts. He scored many different ways but mostly with an immaculate mid-range game.
“Once LeBron starts making outside shots late in the game, I kind of know it’s over for the other team,” backup guard Alex Caruso said. “Give him the ball and let him be himself. He’s one of the greatest players that ever played for a reason.”
It wasn’t only James. The efforts were many for a Lakers team that hadn’t even made the playoffs since 2013 but suddenly stood four victories from the franchise’s 17th championship.
Davis had 27 points to help clinch his first trip to the Finals in his eight-year career.
Caruso, known primarily as the Lakers’ best perimeter defender, had four successful finishes around the basket in the first quarter alone, including a strong dunk off a Davis feed.
He also took charge of Denver center Nikola Jokic early in the second quarter, forcing the All-Star center out of the game with three fouls. Jokic didn’t return until the third quarter and finished with 20 points. Rising star Jamal Murray had 19 points but didn’t shoot well from deep, missing all four of his three-point attempts.
Denver had an unforgettable playoff run, beating Utah and the Clippers after falling behind in each series, 3-1.
But the Lakers were just too much.
Check that. LeBron James was just too much.
Mike Bresnahan is the Lakers analyst for Spectrum SportsNet.