Here are five takeaways from the Lakers’ 119-108 win against Denver in Game 4:

Maybe soon but not today

The Lakers staved off elimination by playing their most complete game of the playoffs in a wire-to-wire win against the Nuggets. For the fourth straight game, they led by double digits, but for the first time against Denver, they held that lead.

“We knew they were going to make a couple of runs, a prideful, championship team. … We had some unfortunate fouls, some unfortunate turnovers. But we kept the scoreboard moving as well, which you have to,” coach Darvin Ham said. “You’re not going to shut anyone down completely for the entire game so you just have to be prepared for that onslaught and make sure you’re doing what you need to do and meeting force with force. Force them into tough situations. And if it doesn’t work out, move on to the next play and go try to go back at them.”

After disastrous second halves in the previous three games, the Lakers were only a minus-2 in the second half Saturday, withstanding every Denver push with consistent and organized offense and just enough defense.

“We know. We’ve talked about it,” LeBron James said. “We’ve been talking about it. It’s something that’s been an Achilles’ heel for us all season, coming into the third quarter with some energy and understanding that teams want to try to make that run when the second [half] happens. So we talked about it again tonight and we were able to fix it. And it goes with more than just talking about it. You got to go out and be about it as well. And we did that.”

The win came as scrutiny about Ham’s future increased significantly with the Lakers’ dropping the first three games to Denver, extending a streak to 11 straight before Saturday’s win.

While the Game 4 win kept the season alive, it’s merely a step.

“We won this game,” James said. “That was the most important, but now we got to start focusing on the next one. So, it’s not like we lose the next one and then it would be 12-1 in the last 13 games. We want to try to make that not happen.

“We want to continue to try to play good basketball and focus on our next task. Our next task, like I said, is Monday’s game and we’ll see what happens.”

AD’s A-plus

Anthony Davis had his best game of the series, a 25-point, 23-rebound, six-assist performance while playing a more disciplined style on the defensive end.

“Totally just dominant. Dominant,” Ham said of Davis. “Just the way he’s been on the glass, changing shots, got a helluva matchup with Joker [Denver’s Nikola Jokic]. Just his focus, being that defensive catalyst, communicating.”

Offensively, Davis attacked more forcefully and, for the first time this series, played with more continuous energy than Jokic, who still had a triple-double.

“I’m in a good rhythm, just how we’re playing,” Davis said. “Just playing in the flow, not really forcing anything, just letting the game kind of come to me. A lot of pick and rolls, stuff around rim, if I get some isolations, trying to be aggressive. If I see an open floor if I get a rebound, pushing it. Being aggressive in those moments.”

LeBron late

Despite strong numbers throughout the series, James at times has had uneven performances on the defensive end. Aaron Gordon, in particular, was a thorn in his side in Game 3, with 29 points, beating James backdoor when his energy shifted to another attacker.

On Saturday, Gordon was a non-factor with James more energetic on the defensive end.

And in the fourth quarter, James had another great quarter, making six of eight shots from the field to lead all fourth-quarter scorers.

“Well, they’re going to make adjustments. They’re a great team. They’re super-well-coached,” James said. “We have to be able to counter their attacks but also come in with the same mindset that we have to sustain our effort, we have to sustain our energy. We’re here to do that. Keep attacking. And try to keep them [at bay] in the things that we can control, like fast-break points. We only gave up 12 tonight to them. We only gave up five second-chance points. And also at the same time, we only gave up nine offensive rebounds.”

The others have their night

Gabe Vincent hit a big three. Taurean Prince attacked the rim. The two of them played key fourth-quarter minutes.

Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell reacts alongside LeBron James during their Game 4 victory over the Nuggets on Saturday night at Crypto.com Arena.

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Rui Hachimura finished at the rim. Austin Reaves attacked. And D’Angelo Russell, after a miserable Game 3, bounced back in Game 4.

“Obviously, our offense was clicking better than it has been in the last three games,” Reaves said. “And I think everybody in the starting lineup besides me shot 50% or better from the floor. So that’s always a recipe for success. And then, obviously, always playing off LeBron and AD. They relieve so much pressure because coaches and teams are always so worried about them, then we can really be ourselves.”

For Russell, it’s his second strong bounce-back game of the series, the key being to not have another off night.

“We found a way to score and get stops and then at some point we stopped getting good looks, stopped putting the ball in the hole, and then they find a way within their system to continue to be efficient and get good quality shots,” Russell said. “For us, that’s something we struggle with. For us to focus on it this game to continue to get good shots, to continue to push the pace, it’s something that happens, keep going, next play mentality. We kept the pace in the game up and I think it played in our favor.”

Still room to grow

The Lakers, like Denver, still haven’t really had a top-notch shooting night from three. And, despite Nuggets coach Michael Malone pointing out the Lakers’ free-throw edge this season, Denver has won that battle in each of the last three games of the series.

Jamal Murray still hasn’t fully caught fire, and Saturday the Lakers’ defense still gave Denver some great looks after mistakes. Yet for the first time in what feels like forever, Denver missed a bunch of those shots.

“We’ve got a lot of good stuff to look at in film and just have to be even better, even more perfect,” Ham said.

The New York Jets hope they found a diamond in the rough with this year’s “Mr. Irrelevant.”

That title goes to the final selection of each NFL Draft.

This year, there were 257 draft picks since Thursday night.

And after seeing 256 players taken ahead of him, Alabama safety Jaylen Key still got a life-changing call when the Jets selected him at 257.

Key transferred to Tuscaloosa after spending four years at UAB, where he played 43 games.

He appeared in 12 of the Crimson Tide’s 14 games last season, recording 60 tackles.

While the expectations are low for Key, there is a prize in being the last man chosen.

Every year, Mr. Irrelevant and his family are invited to Newport Beach, California, for a week of golfing, visiting Disneyland and living a rather relevant lifestyle.

Last year’s Mr. Irrelevant, Desjuan Johnson of the Los Angeles Rams, recorded two sacks in his 11 games last season. He played in a season-high 48% defensive snaps in their final game of the regular season but played in just three snaps in their playoff game against the Detroit Lions.

Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Jaylen Key warms up before the CFP semifinal at the Rose Bowl against the Michigan Wolverines Jan. 1, 2024, in Pasadena, Calif. (Jordon Kelly/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

JIM HARBAUGH TELLS MICHIGAN STAR THEY ARE REUNITING WITH CHARGERS, SINGS SCHOOL’S FIGHT SONG IN CELEBRATION

In almost every case, there aren’t many expectations for Mr. Irrelevant, but the final pick from 2022 has flipped the script.

That year’s Mr. Irrelevant was Brock Purdy, who became the San Francisco 49ers’ starting quarterback after multiple injuries to other players. He led the Niners to an NFC title game in 2023 and a Super Bowl appearance in 2024.

Since taking over, he has gone 21-6 as a starter, completing 68.7% of his passes for 5,654 yards, 44 touchdowns and just 15 interceptions. Purdy was named to the Pro Bowl last season and finished fourth in the MVP voting.

Defensive back Jaylen Key (6) of the Alabama Crimson Tide defends in coverage during a CFP semifinal game at the Rose Bowl against the Michigan Wolverines Jan. 1, 2024, in Pasadena, Calif.  (Ryan Kang/Getty Images)

Maybe the title doesn’t show it, but at the very least, “Mr. Irrelevant” is more relevant to the sport than a lot of other players.

Teams will continue acquiring players after the draft as undrafted free agents.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Former Harvard-Westlake star Kiki Iriafen is coming home.

The former Stanford forward has committed to USC out of the transfer portal, she told ESPN on Saturday, turning the Trojans into immediate national championship contenders. The 6-foot-3 forward, who was named the Pac-12’s most improved player last year, will join forces with national freshman of the year JuJu Watkins and the nation’s top recruiting class as the Trojans try to build on their first Elite Eight appearance since 1994.

Iriafen averaged 19.4 points and 11 rebounds for Stanford as a junior after just 6.7 points and 3.8 rebounds as a sophomore. She was named an honorable mention All-American while playing alongside Cameron Brink and leading the Cardinal to a Pac-12 regular season title. She scored a career-high 41 points to hold off Iowa State in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

The L.A. native, who was a McDonald’s All-American at Harvard-Westlake, graduated from Stanford in three years and entered the portal soon after Stanford’s legendary coach Tara VanDerveer announced her retirement.

Not only do the Trojans add a dynamic post presence with Iriafen, but coach Lindsay Gottlieb continues to build a roster with local stars who can help draw growing crowds to Galen Center. Iriafen, Watkins, starting senior center Rayah Marshall (Lynwood High) and incoming freshman Kennedy Smith (Etiwanda High) are Southern California natives. Excitement surrounding Watkins helped the Trojans nearly quadruple their home attendance this season from the previous year, including a sell-out against UCLA.

The Bruins also added a verbal pledge from a former Pac-12 rival as Washington State guard Charlisse Leger-Walker committed to UCLA on Thursday. The New Zealand national team star who led the Cougars to their first conference tournament title in 2023 suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in a game at Pauley Pavilion in January. She was a four-time All-Pac-12 selection and three-time honorable mention All-American averaging 16.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists for her career.