During a fourth quarter in which the Lakers had two assists, the Nuggets had six assists, a true team competing against what appeared to be five individuals.

During a fourth quarter that featured James at his spectacular best — he scored a dozen points and made every big play — the rest of the Lakers combined for eight points while mostly standing around, seemingly waiting for the King to save them.

He's not enough to save them, not this year, and maybe never again here. He's not getting younger and his supporting cast isn't getting better and right about now, this whole Laker deal just stinks.

They're on the verge of losing to Denver in the playoffs for a second consecutive year with no big summer changes in sight. There's seemingly no way James is going to opt out of a $51.4 million salary this summer. There's seemingly no way the Lakers are going to trade Davis after his best season here.

They're going nowhere ... and nowhere never felt so awful as Monday night, when they scored all of 40 points in the second half.

"We just missed a few shots down that stretch when they were throwing haymakers, simple as that," said Russell.

The final haymaker epitomized the Nuggets' greatness, as Michael Porter Jr. powerfully rebounded a deep rushed miss by James with 16 seconds remaining.

"Had a wide-open look and it rimmed out," James said. "I mean, it rimmed in and rimmed out."

The Nuggets immediately got the ball to Murray. Their veteran guard had missed 13 of his first 16 shots, but it didn't matter. He was taking the last shot. The Nuggets knew it, and set it up for him to heave a 15-footer over the arms of an onrushing Davis.

"In those situations it's important to be organized," Jokic said.

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