LOS ANGELES — LeBron James had the season on his hands, the series in his legs, the beginnings of a miracle within his reach.
Yet, in the end, he just couldn't get high enough.
In a play that typified the Lakers uphill battle of a season, James' potential score-tying jumper was blocked by Denver's Aaron Gordon in the final seconds Monday to cement the Nuggets' 113-111 victory and a four-game sweep of the Western Conference finals.