Jamal Murray hit a tiebreaking 14-footer with lower than 4 seconds left to ship the host Denver Nuggets to the Western Convention semifinals with a 108-106 win over the Los Angeles Lakers in Sport 5 of a first-round playoff sequence.
The second-seeded Nuggets gained the best-of-seven sequence 4-1 and can face the third-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves within the Western Convention semifinals starting on Saturday in Denver.
“This sequence positively acquired us prepared for the following sequence,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone stated, “however that being stated, we’re going to must play significantly better if we wish to beat Minnesota.”
As he did in Sport 2, Murray got here alive within the fourth quarter and beat Los Angeles with a clutch jumper. He completed with a game-high 32 factors, 12 within the fourth quarter, regardless of taking part in on a strained left calf.
Murray stated of the deja vu second, “It’s wonderful. These are photographs that you simply dream of as a little bit child and practise in your again yard, on the playground.”
Nikola Jokic had 25 factors, 20 rebounds, 9 assists and 7 turnovers, Michael Porter Jr. scored 26 factors and Aaron Gordon grabbed 13 rebounds for the Nuggets.
LeBron James put up 30 factors, 11 assists and 9 rebounds for the seventh seeded Lakers. Anthony Davis had 17 factors and 15 rebounds whereas taking part in via an injured left shoulder.
The sport was tight all through the fourth quarter. Jokic hit a tiebreaking runner with 2:34 left earlier than Austin Reaves drained a 3-pointer to present the Lakers a 102-101 lead with 2:12 to go. The groups traded baskets to maintain Los Angeles in entrance, however Murray’s 3-pointer put the Nuggets forward 106-104 with 1:07 remaining.
James made two free throws with 26.3 seconds left to tie the rating earlier than Murray dribbled down the clock and hit a fadeaway.
Los Angeles’ Taurean Prince missed a protracted 3-point try for the win on the buzzer.
“It sucks to lose to the identical crew,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham stated, referring to his crew’s sweep by the hands of Denver within the 2023 Western Convention finals.
“Joyful we broke that ice and was capable of get one. General we gained a battle and so they gained the struggle.”
TALLY ‘EM UP #MileHighPlayoffs | #Road2Gold pic.twitter.com/ZovWpIL7wv
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) April 30, 2024
LeBron James tight-lipped on future with Lakers
Shortly after the sport, James was requested if there was any thought he might need performed his final sport with the Lakers.
James paused a very long time earlier than replying, “Uhhh, I’m not gonna reply that.”
Requested about taking any confidence shifting ahead from the Lakers pushing the defending champion Nuggets, James stated, “No, ‘trigger we misplaced. … I’m not a ‘participation’ man. We misplaced and you progress on and see how one can get higher.
“Our season has been derailed all season with … accidents and guys out and in. I talked about all of it 12 months. … It’s arduous to say who we’re, what we may be ‘trigger now we have but to be entire. I believe we had been solely most likely entire one or two occasions this 12 months. I do know considered one of them was throughout the in-season event, we acquired entire and we confirmed what we (are) able to doing.
“However we had been simply hit with accidents after accidents after accidents, and it’s simply arduous to come back again from that.”
If he decides to come back again, James might determine whether or not to hit free company or to choose up a $51.4m participant possibility for the final 12 months of his cope with the Lakers.
James simply accomplished his twenty first NBA season, which included his twentieth consecutive All-Star Sport choice. He’s a four-time NBA champion, a four-time NBA Finals MVP and a four-time regular-season MVP.
Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder sink New Orleans Pelicans, Boston Celtics beat Miami Warmth
Elsewhere, Jalen Williams placed on a 24-point efficiency because the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder beat the New Orleans Pelicans 97-89 night time to finish a four-game sweep of their first-round playoff sequence.
High-seeded Thunder advance to face both the fourth-seeded Los Angeles Clippers or the fifth-seeded Dallas Mavericks within the Western Convention semifinals.
In Miami, Derrick White scored a career-high 38 factors on 15-for-26 capturing, together with 8-for-15 success from 3-point vary, and Boston Celtics cruised to a win over Miami Warmth.
Jayson Tatum added 20 factors and 11 rebounds for the Celtics, who seized a 3-1 lead within the best-of-seven Japanese Convention quarterfinal sequence. Nonetheless, Boston misplaced Kristaps Porzingis to a calf damage within the first half.
▪️ BOS takes a 3-1 lead
▪️ OKC advances
▪️ DEN advancesThe #NBAPlayoffs introduced by Google Pixel proceed Tuesday on TNT and NBA TV! pic.twitter.com/HnWiwVnezB
— NBA (@NBA) April 30, 2024