Jokic set for first trip to NBA finals

Nikola Jokic is about to say hello to the NBA finals.

LeBron James is hinting that he might say goodbye to the NBA.

The stars were stars in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals, when Jokic and the Denver Nuggets finished off a sweep of James and the Los Angeles Lakers to make the title series for the first time.

Jokic averaged a triple-double for his second consecutive series — and broke Wilt Chamberlain’s singleseason playoff record with his eighth triple-double of this postseason run.

James finished his season with 40 points, an impressive display by the NBA’s all-time scoring leader. But after the game, James cast some doubt on whether he’ll return for a 21st season.

“We’ll see what happens going forward,” James said. “I don’t know. I don’t know. I’ve got a lot to think about to be honest. Just for me personally going forward with the game of basketball, I’ve got a lot to think about.”

What’s next?

Miami had a chance to win the Eastern Conference on Tuesday night. The Heat led that title series over the Boston Celtics 3-0, and were one win from being the second No. 8 seed in history to make the NBA finals.

If Game 5 of Celtics-Heat if necessary, it would be Thursday in Boston.

Looking ahead

Denver went 2-0 against Miami this season and 1-1 against Boston.

Both of the Heat-Nuggets game ended up close: Denver won by five in Miami on Dec. 30, and by four at home on Feb. 13.

The Celtics-Nuggets games were both decided by larger margins: Boston won at home by 19 on Nov. 11, Denver won at home by12 on Jan. 1.

Inside the numbers

■ A Miami sweep would make NBA history. There’s never been a season where both conference finals ended in 4-0 sweeps; it happened in 1957 when what was then called the division finals immediately preceded the title series. That year, Boston beat Syracuse, 3-0, and St. Louis beat Minneapolis, 3-0.

■ Denver has won six consecutive playoff games. It’s the Nuggets’ longest post-season winning streak since joining the NBA; they won five in a row in the 2009 playoffs.

■ The Nuggets tied a franchise-low by only six players taking a shot attempt in Game 4.

MARK J. TERRILL T H E A S S O C I AT E D PRESS Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, of Kitchener, shoots past Los Angeles Lakers guard Dennis Schroder in the first half of Game 4 of the NBA’s Western Conference final series on Monday. The Nuggets swept the Lakers and will play in the NBA finals for the first time.