The Los Angeles Lakers are the NBA record champions, the Denver Nuggets the defending champions. Just like last year, LeBron James’ season ends in this duel
The Los Angeles Lakers once again failed to beat the Denver Nuggets in the NBA playoffs and once again let a lead slip from their grasp. The NBA record champions lost 106:108 to the defending champions on Monday evening (local time) in Denver, conceding a decisive fourth defeat in the fifth game of the playoff series.
Last year, the two teams had faced each other in the Western Conference final, with the Nuggets winning the series 4:0 and then taking the title in the final against the Miami Heat.
Murray excels with 32 points
This year, the Lakers had given up a 20-point lead once and a 12-point lead twice in their defeats. In game five, the Lakers were up nine points midway through the third quarter and then lost control. Nuggets pro Jamal Murray sealed the win with the final goal and totaled 32 points.
“I don’t know what to say. I’m just happy for us,” said Murray. Nikola Jokic scored 25 points. LeBron James scored 30 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds for the Lakers. He was unable to prevent the end of his 21st season in the NBA.
And so it remains: Never before has an NBA team turned around a 0:3 series deficit in the play-offs.
James dodges questions about the future
What the future holds for James, now 39 years old, remains to be seen. The NBA’s record scorer could opt out of his contract in the summer and possibly fulfill a big dream: playing in a team with his eldest son Bronny. The 19-year-old plays college basketball and has already registered for the upcoming NBA Draft.
“First of all, hats off to the defending champions, a great team, well coached, they made the right moves to win this series, you have to give them credit,” James said, dodging questions about his future: “I just want to think about my family. I’m going to focus on them”. And then prepare with the USA for the Olympic Games in Paris (July 26 to August 11).
What comes after that? He hasn’t “thought much about that recently. Ultimately, the boy will do what he wants – I say boy, but he’s a young man now – he’ll decide which path he wants to take in his career. “
OKC sweep Pelicans – Celtics lead 3-1
Before that, the Oklahoma City Thunder had won their fourth game in four against the New Orleans Pelicans to advance to the next round. The visitors trailed by five points at one stage in the final quarter (97:89), but then took control and prevailed. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams each scored 24 points. For the Pelicans, who had to do without their injured star Zion Williamson for the entire series, CJ McCollum had the best haul with 20 points.
In the series between the Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics, the favored Celtics picked up their third win and can clinch the second round with another victory after winning 102-88.
