Denver’s 108-106 Victory Over Lakers; LeBron James Focused on Family After Playoff Exit
The defending champions Denver, culminating in a 108-106 victory for the Nuggets to secure a 4-1 series triumph as LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers faced elimination from the NBA playoffs in a gripping showdown.
With four seconds left, Jamal Murray made a game-winning jump shot that propelled Denver into the Western Conference semifinals against Minnesota. Murray finished with 32 points.
The Lakers had appeared ready to force a game six back in Los Angeles following an inspiring performance that saw them go ahead nine points in the third quarter. They were trying to become the first team in NBA postseason history to overcome a 3-0 series disadvantage.
However, Denver once again demonstrated their incredible championship history in the closing moments, and Murray delivered the game-winning basket while coolly running out the clock.
NBA legend James, on the other hand, led the Lakers in scoring with 30 points, 11 assists, and 9 rebounds.
Anthony Davis, a mainstay on the Lakers defense who looked to be dealing with a shoulder ailment for the whole of the game, finished with 17 points, 15 rebounds, and four assists.
But Denver’s superior defensive and offensive capabilities ultimately proved to be too much for the Lakers to overcome.
Murray was supported by Nikola Jokic, the two-time NBA Most Valuable Player, who finished with 25 points, 20 rebounds, and nine assists. Michael Porter Jr. scored 26 points, including five three-pointers.
Nine costly free throws were missed, including four in the fourth quarter, which the usually accurate Lakers were left to regret.
Following the loss, Lakers coach Darvin Ham remarked, “It’s one of those games man, they’re a hell of a team.”
“I’ve been saying it the entire year and the entire series—they know how to gut out wins; they’ve been there before,” the champions are defending for a reason.However, I am incredibly proud of our bunch. Our troops’ determination to battle showed a great deal of courage, character, and perseverance.
“However, the intangibles managed to fool us once more.” Late in the game, we let up some second-chance scores and missed a few free shots. That’s just the way things are. All you have to do is develop, learn from it, and return stronger emotionally, spiritually, and physically.
Somewhere else The Oklahoma City Thunder guaranteed their spot in the NBA playoffs’ second round on Monday by defeating the New Orleans Pelicans 4-0 in their series.
Top seeds in the Western Conference Oklahoma City defeated New Orleans 97-89 on the road in Louisiana thanks to a late scoring surge in the fourth quarter.
In a fierce game that saw the lead change hands 19 times, the Pelicans led by five points with just over eight minutes left until Oklahoma City rallied with an 18-2 run to win.
With 24 points apiece, Jalen Williams and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder in scoring, followed by Luguentz Dort with 11 and Chet Holmgren and Josh Giddey with 14.
The Thunder, who won their first playoff series since 2016, will now play either the Dallas Mavericks or the Los Angeles Clippers in the Western Conference semifinal.
Williams remarked after the game, “This was probably our hardest game.” “We didn’t make many shots, but I believe that defensively we tightened up toward the end.”
“We stick together during the season’s highs and lows, thick and thin. Together, we persevered, and the outcome is now visible to you.
Elsewhere on Monday, Derrick White scored 38 points as the top-seeded Boston Celtics crushed Miami 102-88 on the road to take a 3-1 lead in their best-of-seven series.
After a 20-point triumph against Miami in game three Saturday, Boston followed up where they left off with another emphatic effort over last season’s Eastern Conference champions.
With an impressive first-quarter performance that included four three-pointers and 16 points overall, White set the tone for Boston and gave the Celtics a 10-point lead going into the second quarter.
Boston increased their pressure and opened up a 53-36 lead at the half.
At one point in the third quarter, the Celtics’ lead reached 28 points. Miami responded with a late run in the fourth quarter, cutting the gap to 13 points with just over five minutes left, but Boston’s hold on the lead never appeared to be seriously threatened.
With a victory in game five on Wednesday at Boston, the Celtics can guarantee their spot in the second round, where they will play either Orlando or Cleveland.
Also Read: 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup Final: United States’ Dominating Victory Over Serbia
LeBron James focused on family and Paris Olympics after Lakers playoff exit
After recording 30 points, 11 assists, and 9 rebounds in the Denver Nuggets game, James declared, “Right now, it’s about family.”
LeBron James, who saw the Los Angeles Lakers eliminated from the NBA playoffs on Monday, intends to spend time with his family, recuperate, and then focus on Team USA and the Paris Olympics.
The Lakers lost 4-1 in the opening round, falling 108-106 to the Denver Nuggets, the reigning champions, despite a closer series overall.
James, who finished the game with 30 points, 11 assists, and 9 rebounds, stated, “Right now, it’s about family.”
“And I have to travel to Vegas for training camp in a few months. I must thus rest my body in preparation for USA Basketball.
After completing his 21st season in the NBA, James, 39, will have until June 29 to choose between becoming an unrestricted free agent, opting into the final year of his $51.4 million contract with the Lakers, or retiring.
The Lakers, who are open to negotiating the maximum three-year, $164 million agreement they can give, are desperate to get back the NBA’s all-time top scorer, according to sources cited by the Athletic. James’s contract would expire when he was 42 years old.
According to the Athletic, the Lakers are also considering the possibility of selecting James’ adolescent son Bronny in the June NBA draft if doing so will assist his father stay in purple and gold.
Although James had previously stated that he intended to play alongside his 19-year-old son to end his career, he has now placed less weight on that goal.
When asked about the prospect, James replied, “I haven’t given it much thought lately.”
“Obviously, I’ve given it some attention in the past, but ultimately, the child needs to follow his own desires. I’m so beyond calling myself a kid. The young man will make the decision about what he wants to accomplish and how his career develops,” he stated.
“I find it pretty cool that we are having this conversation,”
James said that it had been difficult to play in the league for as long as he had, but it had been worthwhile.
“It’s quite exhausting,” remarked the four-time winner.
“Everything about it—mentally, physically, spiritually, and otherwise—but it’s also very rewarding because, if you love the game, the process, and winning, you won’t mind the toll it takes on your body, mind, and soul.”
