After another dominant performance by Nikola Jokic, the Lakers were swept out of the Western Conference finals by the Nuggets.
Denver will advance to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history, and they enter as heavy favorites. The Lakers, meanwhile, face a very long offseason which began with rumors that LeBron James could retire. Even if that possibility is unlikely, the road projects as bumpy in Los Angeles.
No one had a more appropriate reaction as the season neared an end than Lakers star big man Anthony Davis who, alongside Rui Hachimura, shared the tough assignment of defending Jokic.
What a tough shot by Jokic 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/qmeHcAHe8S
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) May 23, 2023
Davis was guarding Jokic on the perimeter as the shot clock neared an expiration. Despite an impossibly high degree of difficulty on the attempt, Jokic was able to connect on this circus-like shot.
The two-time MVP also hit a similar fadeaway jumper when covered by LeBron.
Nikola Jokic made this insane fadeaway shot at the shot-clock buzzer TWICE over LeBron James and Anthony Davis in a game the Nuggets won by just 2. pic.twitter.com/X6eR5PKjlE
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) May 23, 2023
Jokic was heavily contested by Davis, but it didn’t matter whatsoever.
Davis saw the shot miraculously connect and he was appropriately crushed.
Just watch that reaction and you can see the devastation on his face.
Earlier in the series, Davis also shared a very honest explanation for why he smiled after a different wild shot from Jokic.
After the game, both Davis and LeBron asserted that this Nuggets team was the best that Los Angeles has faced as teammates.
