Denver Nuggets Locker Room Celebration After Crazy Win vs Lakers in Game 5 & Advancing to WCSemis!
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Published 2024-04-29
'I'm not going to answer that': LeBron dodges question on Lakers future
LeBron James shrugs off a question about his future with the Lakers as he reflects on the season.
DENVER -- — Jamal Murray overcame a strained left calf, management's suggestion he sit this one out and another haymaker from the Los Angeles Lakers to score 32 points and sink the game-winner with 3.6 seconds left Monday night.
That sent LeBron James to his earliest playoff exit ever and the Denver Nuggets tottering into Round 2 with a 108-106 win in Game 5 that featured 16 lead changes and 10 ties and was only secured when Taurean Prince's halfcourt heave fell short as time expired.
“Shout-out to the Lakers, they gave us a great series,” said Murray, who also hit franchise's first playoff buzzer-beater in Game 2.
“Those are shots that you dream of as a little kid,” said Murray, who called this one just “a little better.”
If not for his dogged determination — and defiance — Murray never would have had the chance to seal the series.
“I came in a little earlier today to see if I was going to be able to go, and I felt like I could and they just didn't want me to risk it,” recounted Murray, who warmed up with an ice pack strapped to his injured calf.
"They told me no. They told me no.
"And I didn't say no. I didn't want to leave my teammates out there,” added Murray, who missed 23 games due to injury in 2023-24. “We've been battling all season. Everybody's hurt at some point, everybody's going through something and I just wouldn't be able to live with myself if I wasn't able to play this game.
”I'm just glad they listened to me — and listened to me listening to my body — and just trusting me with it."
James' two free throws tied it at 106 with 26 seconds left and the Nuggets, just as they did in Game 2, eschewed the timeout and Murray took the ball on a high screen-and-roll to his left, shaking Austin Reaves as he crossed through the lane and swishing the 14-footer.
“That kid’s a warrior, man," Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. "The bigger the moment, the kid just continues to shine.”
Nikola Jokic, who committed an uncharacteristic seven turnovers, narrowly missed 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 Anthony Davis had 17 points and 15 rebounds but appeared bothered down the stretch after banging his left shoulder into MPJ in the second half.
The Nuggets advanced to face the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round starting next weekend. That series starts in Denver, where the Nuggets are a Western Conference-best 36-8, including 3-0 in the playoffs.
Not that it was been easy.
The Nuggets trailed for about three-fourths of the minutes in this series, they scuffled through extended shooting slumps and they're a banged-up bunch that can definitely use the rest.
“First of all, tip your hat to them,” James said. “Defending champions. They’re great team. Super-well coached and made the plays down the stretch to win the series. You give credit where credit is due, that’s for sure.”
Davis matched Murray’s 16 first-half points and the Lakers led 53-50 at halftime. They 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 that was tight until the buzzer.
The Nuggets, who swept the Lakers in the Western Conference finals last summer on their way to winning the franchise's first NBA championship, beat the Lakers for the 12th time in their last 13 games.
The only other time James was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs came in 2021 when the Phoenix Suns beat L.A. in six games.
So, this was the shortest of James' 17 trips to the playoffs despite the Lakers taking the reigning champs to the brink in all five games.
“I couldn’t be more proud of our crew despite everything that happened,” said Lakers coach Darvin Ham, who's sure to be on the hot seat. “Obviously, the series didn’t go in our favor, didn’t start the way we wanted it to, but to win that one at home, fight tooth and nail today to get this one, our guys showed a lot of guts and a lot of character."
#nikolajokic
#denvernuggets
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#jamalmurray
#aarongordon
#michaelporter
#westernconference
All Comments (21)
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MPJ unsung hero of the series, bro. We all know what Jokic does and we're spoiled by it, but MPJ scored all throughout and kept the offense afloat long enough for the others to use that lifeline to win the games. Proud of him in this trying time.
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Jokic always immediately takes the chain off, its hilarious.
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Jokic doesn't get a free throw. Unreal.
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Mike Mike Mike Mike 😂
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Love Jokic taking off the bling right away
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Porter is becoming humble. It means he is becoming greater.
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Jamal is soooo cold
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Jokic taking the chain off immediately 😭
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Now the world can enjoy the rest of the playoffs without hearing about LeBron and the Lakers anymore.
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AG's last offensive rebound...which I love (and pass to Murray for the 3-pointer) was the final blow for the Lakers
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Im dead jokic instantly took the chain off
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Family on three...1-2-3 FAMILY!!
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Once again, Lakers get a massive differential in free throws. And Jokic didn’t get fouled even once. 🤦♂️
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I rewatched the game. The refs gifted the Fakers 20 points.😮😅
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MPJ taking the next step forming the trifecta of greatness. But bench needs to bring more scoring if Nugs are going to retain their crown. Hope KCP and Jamal get better with some rest.
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Joker took that off immediately lol
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Go Nuggets!
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Murray and Jokic are superstars that overshadow the other starting five we forget they’re superstars too. MPJ deserves his flowers man, we were down for almost all the games this series and he was the shooter with timely clutch 3s that either cut the lead or always kept us in the game. His game really did elevate since last year, didn’t think it was possible
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Jokic took off the award quickly. Appreciated.
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Sky is limit of denver nuggets team.let's go denver.💪👍
