The Lakers snapped an 11-game losing streak to the Nuggets with Saturday's 119-108 win but still enter Monday's Game 5 on the edge of elimination.
Covered the Lakers and NBA for ESPNLosAngeles.com from 2009-14, the Cavaliers from 2014-18 for ESPN.com and the NBA for NBA.com from 2005-09.
No team in NBA history has come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a best-of-seven playoff series. Then again, no team in league history had ever come back from down 3-1 in the NBA Finals before James'"Monday's game is the most important game of the season for us, and we understand that and we know that, so it's that stage where you lose, you're done," said James, who now has the most 30-point games in elimination scenarios with 19."You win and you keep going.
Davis was masterful Saturday, totaling 25 points on 11-for-17 shooting, tying a career playoff high with 23 rebounds and dishing out six assists. For the series, he is averaging 30.5 points on 62.2% shooting and 15.8 rebounds, often matched up against two-time MVP"AD doesn't have to prove anything to anybody," James said."He's one of the best bigs we have in the game, one of the best bigs in the world. And he's showing that again through the first four games.
"I mean, I appreciate that, but I believe in myself, simple as that, more than anybody," Russell said of Ham's faith in him."I didn't need that, but I appreciate that."
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