LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers were defeated 108-106 on Monday night by the Denver Nuggets thanks to a game-winning jumper made by Jamal Murray with 3.6 seconds remaining in Game 5.
After hitting a buzzer-beater in Game 2, which finished a 20-point rally for the defending champions at Ball Arena to take a 2-0 series lead, Murray’s game-winning basket was his second of the series.
The Nuggets guard ended Monday’s game with a game-high 32 points and seven assists to go with his calf ailment that predated the game. With this victory, the series was won 4-1.
About his game-winning play, Murray remarked, “This one was a little better.” “I’m speechless … it’s a dream come true. All these fans on your side and to get it done in this fashion, I don’t know what to say, I’m just happy for us.”
The Lakers’ defeat marks their 12th in their past 13 encounters with Denver; last season, they were swept in the Western Conference Finals as the Nuggets won their maiden NBA title.
James and the Lakers were unable to overcome the Nuggets even though they had a lead for around three-quarters of the series.
As they have in every game of the series, the Lakers led by double digits at the half and went on to lead by as many as nine points in the third quarter before the Nuggets finished it off with a 21-10 run to take a two-point lead into the fourth.
Down the stretch, both teams traded leads until Murray scored the game-winning basket. At the buzzer, Lakers forward Taurean Prince attempted a halfcourt prayer, but it was just too short to reach the hoop.
Two-time MVP Nikola Jokić ended with twenty rebounds, nine assists, and twenty points. Michael Porter Jr. scored twenty-six points, making five of his seven shots from beyond the arc.
The Nuggets progress to the second round, where they will take on Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves, after winning the series. Denver, home of the 36-8 Nuggets this season, with a perfect 3-0 record in the postseason, will host Game 1 on Saturday.
James, who finished with a nearly triple-double in Game 5 with 30 points, 11 assists, nine rebounds, and four steals, ends his 21st season with the loss.
All three of James and NBA playoff mainstays Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant will be absent from the second round of the playoffs for the first time since the 2004–05 season.
Celtics Thrash Heat, Thunder Sweep the Pelicans
The young Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 97-89 in another postseason game to finish a 4-0 series sweep and move on to the second round.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the standout guard for Oklahoma City, finished with a game-high 24 points, 10 rebounds, and two blocks, making the Thunder the youngest team in NBA history to win a playoff series.
Another developing player for OKC, Jalen Williams, added 24 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and two steals.
The Pelicans’ difficult night, which summed up their troubles throughout the series, continued to occur without the injured Zion Williamson.
Brandon Ingram scored just eight points on 2-of-14 shooting, while CJ McCollum scored a team-high twenty points.
The Boston Celtics defeated the Miami Heat 102-88 on Monday to take a commanding 3-1 series lead.
Derrick White, who scored 38 points in the convincing victory, including eight three-pointers, guided the Celtics.
But there was terrible news for the Celtics as well: Kristaps PorziŇģis, their starting center, appeared to have injured his calf.
The Heat, who are still without their main man Jimmy Butler, will now need to pull off an incredible comeback to duplicate their incredible feat of making it to the NBA Finals as a play-in team last year.