Jamal Murray overcame a calf injury to score 32 points, scoring the Nuggets’ 108-106 victory over the Lakers
Jamal Murray scored 32 points despite a strained calf and hit the game-winner with 3.6 seconds left as the defending NBA champions Denver nuggets Returned LeBron James from the playoffs again with a 108-106 victory over the previous Los Angeles Lakers in Game 5 on Monday night.
James’ two free throws tied it at 106 with 26 seconds left and the Nuggets, like they did in Game 2, avoided a timeout and Murray took the ball on a high screen and rolled to his left, swinging. Austin Reaves and he crossed the lane and swung his 14-footer.
That’s Murray’s bell machine won game 2.
“This is a little better,” Murray said as confetti flew around him and his celebrating teammates.
Nikola Jokicwho committed an uncharacteristic seven turnovers, narrowly missing out on his 19th career playoff triple-double with 25 points, 20 rebounds and nine assists and Michael Porter Jr. scored 26.
James had 30 points and 11 assists and Davis had 17 points and 15 rebounds but appeared uncomfortable after hitting MPJ with his left shoulder in the second half.
The Nuggets advance to face the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round starting next weekend. That streak began in Denver, where the Nuggets are a Western Conference-best 36-8, including 3-0 in the playoffs.
Not that it’s easy.
The Nuggets have lasted about three-quarters of the minutes in this series, they’ve struggled with stretch shooting, and they’re a strong group that could certainly use the rest.
The Nuggets, who defeated the Lakers in the Western Conference finals last summer en route to winning the franchise’s first NBA championship, defeated the Lakers for the 12th time in their last 13 games.
The only time James was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs was in 2021 when the Phoenix Suns beat LA in six games.
So it’s the shortest of James’ 17 trips to the playoffs, where he’s now 183-104 overall with a 41-13 series record and four titles.
After warming up with ice on his injured calf, Murray was given medical clearance to compete. He wasn’t his usual explosive driving to the basket — at first — but he put up 16 points in the first half, including 12 in the first quarter, which ended with Denver leading ( 28-24) for the first time in the series.
The Lakers led 53-50 at halftime and pushed that advantage to nine points but the Nuggets closed on a 21-10 run to take an 81-79 lead into the fourth quarter, a game that was tight until the buzzer. resounded.
After Murray’s clutch shot, Taurus prince made an unsuccessful half, leaving the Lakers with an early exit despite taking the defending champions to the brink in all five games.
Associated Press reports.
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