Jamal Murray ends Lakers’ season; Thunder sweep Pelicans; concern for Celtics

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🏀 Good morning to everybody, however particularly …

JAMAL MURRAY AND THE DENVER NUGGETS … 

Jamal Murray is a stone-cold killer, and his newest sufferer is the Lakers‘ whole season. Murray nailed a jumper with 3.6 seconds left as the ultimate dagger within the Nuggets‘ 108-106 series-clinching Sport 5 win.

• Murray, who completed with 32 factors, additionally hit the game-winner in Sport 2. He joins LeBron James (2018), Hedo Turkoglu (2009) and Robert Horry (2002) as the one gamers with a number of go-ahead photographs within the last 5 seconds in a single postseason within the play-by-play period (since 1997).
• He’s the just one to do it twice in the identical collection.
• Nikola Jokic, in the meantime, had 25 factors and 20 rebounds, and Michael Porter Jr. had 26 factors. It is the second time within the final 35 years three Nuggets scored no less than 25 factors in the identical playoff recreation.

That is what the Nuggets do. They can dominate they usually can produce large comebacks, however they primarily hold issues shut after which take opponents’ hearts late. That they had one of the best internet effectivity in clutch video games this season. Jokic and Murray are magnificent. Subsequent, they get a terrific check towards the Timberwolves.

… AND ALSO THE OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER

Neglect the brilliant future. The Thunder have arrived now. Oklahoma Metropolis accomplished the sweep of the Pelicans with a 97-89 win during which all 5 starters scored in double figures.

• Oklahoma Metropolis held New Orleans to 92 factors or fewer in all 4 video games, a shocking feat in right now’s NBA, even given Zion Williamson‘s absence.
• No Pelicans participant had greater than 21 factors in any recreation all collection. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, in the meantime, scored no less than 24 in all 4 video games.

This can be a actually good, enjoyable staff. Gilgeous-Alexander is a celebrity. With Luguentz Dort and Jalen Williams as terrific perimeter defenders and Chet Holmgren defending the paint, the defensive excellence is not any accident. They’re younger, however they seemed like a veteran bunch, caring for enterprise in easy trend. A gathering with the Mavericks or Clippers awaits.

👍 Honorable mentions

😞 And never such a very good morning for …

THE LOS ANGELES LAKERS

There is not any disgrace in dropping to the reigning champs. The Lakers misplaced in 5 video games, positive, however they have been proper there in three of the 4 losses. This was no blowout.

That also would not change the different info, although.

• The Lakers have misplaced 12 of their final 13 to the Nuggets, who’re the category of the West and a category (or two) above the Lakers.
• In 4 seasons since successful the 2020 championship, Los Angeles: misplaced within the first spherical (2021), missed the playoffs (2022), have been swept in convention finals (2023) and acquired bumped within the first spherical.
• Anthony Davis performed probably the most video games in his profession, and James performed his most video games as a Laker, they usually solely managed the No. 7 seed earlier than seeing their season finish within the first spherical.

So the place do the Lakers go? Possibly it begins with letting Darvin Ham go, Sam Quinn writes.

• Quinn: “In truth, the roster may need been too flawed to ever critically compete for a championship. If nothing else, it is exhausting to think about any world during which this assortment of gamers might ever beat the Nuggets in a seven-game collection no matter who was teaching them. However Ham did not precisely assist issues together with his rejection of what so typically felt like frequent sense options to this staff’s issues.”

After which there’s the LeBron challenge. He’ll be 40 in December. He has a participant choice. If an extremely wholesome, productive season from each him and Davis outcomes on this, might he look elsewhere? He sidestepped a query about his future postgame, however there’s reportedly an actual risk he would not return, even when Ham would not, both.

👎 Not so honorable mentions

😬 Celtics’ victory over Warmth marred by Kristaps Porzingis’ calf damage

The Celtics regained full management of their first-round collection with the Warmth with a 102-88 win to take a 3-1 collection lead however doubtlessly suffered a serious loss. Kristaps Porzingis picked up a non-contact damage within the second quarter and didn’t return with “calf tightness.” He’ll endure imaging right now, however the early excellent news is that it would not seem like an Achilles damage.

The long-term excellent news is that if the Celtics end off the Warmth in Sport 5, they’d get a good period of time off in between rounds (although I’ll by no means depend out the Warmth). Boston would then face the winner of Cavaliers-Magic, a collection that is tied 2-2. Plus, as Brad Botkin writes: “Neither of these groups ought to be capable to threaten Boston even with out Porzingis, who turns into a serious necessity beginning within the convention finals …” Assuming it isn’t too extreme, Boston ought to be capable to slow-play Porzingis’ return.

Nonetheless, it is a reminder that well being and luck are large within the playoffs. Porzingis is the largest cause the Celtics are so significantly better than they have been final 12 months. He is a 3-point menace, a rim runner and a rim protector who can create his personal offense, which is large for a staff that typically struggles in shut video games. We have already seen a calf challenge derail Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s — and in flip the Bucks‘ — postseason. For now, Boston is hoping for one of the best.

⚽ UEFA Champions League semifinal preview

The UEFA Champions League semifinals open right now with Bayern Munich internet hosting Actual Madrid. This is the TV schedule throughout CBS and Paramount+.

Let’s begin with Tom Fornelli’s Nook Picks.

• Fornelli: “Actual Madrid [have] been somewhat leaky defensively these days. In three matches towards Manchester Metropolis and Barcelona they allowed six targets on 4.9 xG. Regardless of the outcomes, Actual have additionally been weaker defensively away from dwelling all 12 months. Two months in the past, there was no approach I might’ve seen myself making this decide, however proper now, there’s an excessive amount of worth accessible on Bayern. The Decide: Bayern Munich (+150)”

As for the remainder of our professional picks, they’re far and wide.

Lastly, I beloved James Benge making the case for why every of the ultimate 4 might carry the trophy.

🏈 NFL Draft wrap-up: Superlatives, rookie QB expectations, extra

The NFL Draft — and the speedy reactions — are within the rearview. We have given out grades (and extra grades) and declared winners and losers and far more.

Now we will take a step again, let our preliminary ideas breathe … and dive proper again in. Will Brinson has draft superlatives, and my favourite is …

• Brinson: “Largely Prone to Re-Ignite an Elite Offense En Path to a Three-Peat: Chiefs — The wealthy acquired richer over the weekend, with the Chiefs touchdown Texas wideout Xavier Worthy within the first spherical and BYU offensive lineman Kingsley Suamataia within the second spherical. Worthy set the all-time mix report for quickest 40-yard sprint … Worthy and Marquise Brown (speedy free agent addition) give the Chiefs not simply insurance coverage for a Rashee Rice suspension, however an explosive downfield part the offense lacked final 12 months.”

Worthy is already within the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame with out having performed a snap, by the best way.

I additionally beloved Doug Clawson’s look what we should always anticipate from the historic quarterback class.

• Clawson: “What number of can have a standout rookie season? Most likely one. … There have been 69 QBs drafted within the first spherical from 2000 to 2023. Ten or fewer did ANY of the next as rookies: – Make a Professional Bowl (10) – Common 20 fantasy factors per recreation (9) – Begin a playoff recreation (9) – Throw for 4,000 yards (5).”

This is extra:

📺 What we’re watching Tuesday

⚽ Actual Madrid vs. Bayern Munich, 3 p.m. on CBS and Paramount+
🏀 Sport 5: 76ers at Knicks, 7 p.m. on TNT
🏒 Sport 5: Maple Leafs at Bruins, 7 p.m. on ESPN
🏒 Sport 5: Islanders at Hurricanes, 7:30 p.m. on TBS
🏀 Sport 5: Magic at Cavaliers, 8 p.m. on NBA TV
🏀 Sport 5: Pacers at Bucks, 9:30 p.m. on TNT
🏒 Sport 5: Avalanche at Jets, 9:30 p.m. on ESPN
🏒 Sport 5: Predators at Canucks, 10 p.m. on TBS