Although Golden State’s streak of five consecutive appearances in the NBA Finals is over, a former Warrior will have a chance at bringing home a banner from the Orlando Bubble.
With the Los Angeles Lakers 117-107 victory over the Denver Nuggets in game five of the Western Conference Finals, LeBron James, Anthony Davis and a former Golden State big man will advance to the NBA Finals.
After appearing in the 2017 and 2018 Finals with the Warriors, JaVale McGee will suit up at center for the Lakers in the 2020 edition of the league’s championship series.
In the Lakers’ game five win, McGee logged only two minutes off the bench with a rebound. After starting in the first three games of the series, Frank Vogel opted to bring McGee off the bench in games four and five.
With McGee playing in a limited role, James closed out the Lakers with his 27th postseason triple-double. The four-time Most Valuable Player tallied 38 points on 15-of-25 shooting from the field with 16 rebounds and 10 assists.
Despite an impressive run throughout the playoffs from Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic, the Nuggets couldn’t parlay another 3-1 comeback in the Western Conference Finals.
Watch highlights from the final game of the Western Conference Finals via YouTube:
The Lakers will wait for the Eastern Conference Finals winner between the Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics. If the Heat can eliminate the Celtics, McGee will matchup with his former Golden State teammate Andre Iguodala in the 2020 NBA Finals.
[lawrence-related id=31392,30825,30390,28528]
[vertical-gallery id=31195]