LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers crashed out of the NBA playoffs on Monday after defending champions Denver snatched a 108-106 victory to finish a 4-1 sequence triumph.
Jamal Murray scored 32 factors, together with a decisive go-ahead leap shot with 4 seconds remaining, to ship Denver right into a Western Convention semi-final towards Minnesota.
The Lakers, bidding to change into the primary workforce in NBA playoff historical past to overturn a 3-0 sequence deficit, had regarded poised to power a recreation six again in Los Angeles after a gutsy show noticed them edge 9 factors clear within the third quarter.
However Denver confirmed their excellent championship pedigree as soon as once more down the stretch and it was Murray who utilized the coup de grace in a frantic finale, coolly operating down the clock earlier than draining the profitable basket.
NBA icon James in the meantime completed with 30 factors to steer the Lakers’ scoring with 11 assists and 9 rebounds.
Lakers defensive stalwart Anthony Davis, who appeared troubled by a shoulder damage for a lot of the sport, had 17 factors with 15 rebounds and 4 assists.
However the Lakers had been finally undone by Denver’s higher offensive efficiency and defensive energy.
Two-time NBA Most Invaluable Participant Nikola Jokic backed up Murray with 25 factors, 20 rebounds and 9 assists, whereas Michael Porter Jr. had 26 factors together with 5 three-pointers.
The usually correct Lakers had been additionally left to rue 9 missed free throws, together with 4 within the fourth quarter, that proved pricey.
“It’s a type of video games man, they’re a hell of a workforce,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham mentioned after the defeat.
“They’re defending champs for a motive, I’ve been saying it your entire yr, and your entire sequence, they know the way to intestine out wins, they’ve been there earlier than.
“However I couldn’t be prouder of our group. Our guys confirmed a number of guts, a number of character and resilience to proceed to combat.
“However you realize, the intangibles, they acquired us once more. We missed some free throws and gave up some second-chance factors late. It’s what it’s. You simply acquired to study from it and develop and are available again higher mentally, spiritually and bodily.”
Thunder roll, Celtics on brink
Elsewhere Monday, the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder sealed a 4-0 sequence sweep of the New Orleans Pelicans to ebook their place within the NBA playoffs second spherical.
Western Convention prime seeds Oklahoma Metropolis lastly acquired the higher of New Orleans with a late scoring burst within the fourth quarter to finish a 97-89 street victory in Louisiana.
The Pelicans led by 5 factors with simply over eight minutes remaining earlier than Oklahoma Metropolis responded with an 18-2 run to shut out victory in a hard-fought contest that noticed the lead change arms 19 instances.
Jalen Williams and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder scoring with 24 factors apiece whereas Chet Holmgren and Josh Giddey every scored 14 and Luguentz Dort 11.
It was the Thunder’s first playoff sequence win since 2016 and leaves them going through a Western Convention semi-final towards both the Los Angeles Clippers or Dallas Mavericks.
“This was most likely our hardest recreation,” Williams mentioned afterwards. “We weren’t hitting pictures however I believe defensively we locked in down the stretch.
“We’re all collectively by means of thick and skinny, by means of the ups and downs of the season. We’ve hung in there collectively and now you see the consequence.”
Elsewhere on Monday, Derrick White scored 38 factors because the top-seeded Boston Celtics dominated Miami 102-88 on the street to take a 3-1 lead of their best-of-seven sequence.
After a 20-point win over Miami in recreation three Saturday, Boston picked up the place they left off with one other emphatic efficiency over final season’s Jap Convention champions.
White set the tone for Boston with an electrical first-quarter show, rattling in 16 factors within the opening body — together with 4 three-pointers — to assist the Celtics take a 10-point lead heading into the second quarter.
Boston saved up the stress to open up a 53-36 half-time benefit.
The Celtics stretched the result in 28 factors at one stage within the third quarter, and though Miami rallied within the fourth, narrowing the deficit to 13 factors with simply over 5 minutes remaining, Boston’s grip on the lead by no means regarded in critical jeopardy.
The win means the Celtics can clinch their place within the second spherical, the place they are going to face both Orlando or Cleveland, with a victory in recreation 5 Wednesday again in Boston.