The Los Angeles Lakers have advanced to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2010 after defeating the Denver Nuggets in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals. The Lakers defeated the Nuggets by a score of 117-107, with LeBron James leading the way with 38 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists. The Lakers took control of the game early, jumping out to a 16-point lead in the first quarter. The Nuggets battled back, cutting the lead to just four points in the fourth quarter, but the Lakers were too strong down the stretch.
Anthony Davis also had a big game for the Lakers, finishing with 27 points and five rebounds. The Lakers will now face the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals, which will begin on Wednesday, September 30. This will be the 10th NBA Finals appearance for LeBron James, who has won three championships in his career. The Lakers will be looking to win their 17th championship, which would tie them with the Boston Celtics for the most in NBA history.
In other NBA news, the Houston Rockets have parted ways with head coach Mike D’Antoni. D’Antoni had been the coach of the Rockets since 2016 and led the team to the playoffs in each of his four seasons. However, the Rockets were unable to advance past the second round during his tenure. The Rockets are now in search of a new coach as they look to build a team around James Harden and Russell Westbrook. The team has been rumored to be interested in former NBA player and current television analyst Jeff Van Gundy.
Van Gundy previously coached the Rockets from 2003-2007 and led the team to the playoffs in each of his four seasons. In Major League Baseball, the playoffs are about to begin. The top eight teams from each league will compete for the chance to play in the World Series. The playoffs begin on Tuesday, September 29 with four games on the schedule. In the American League, the top-seeded Tampa Bay Rays will take on the Toronto Blue Jays, while the second-seeded Oakland Athletics will face the seventh-seeded Chicago White Sox.
In the National Post Today League, the top-seeded Los Angeles Dodgers will play the eighth-seeded Milwaukee Brewers, while the second-seeded Atlanta Braves will take on the seventh-seeded Cincinnati Reds. The playoffs will be played in a bubble format, with the American League playing in California and the National League playing in Texas. The World Series will also be played in Texas at Globe Life Field, home of the Texas Rangers.
