Murray proves Nuggets still Lakers’ daddy
Jamal Murray nailed a last-gasp jump shot as the defending champion Denver Nuggets sent LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers crashing out of the National Basketball Association (NBA) playoffs with a series-clinching 108-106 victory on Monday.Murray’s go-ahead bucket with 3.6 seconds remaining settled another pulsating battle between the Western Conference rivals and wrapped up a 4-1 series win for the Nuggets, who now face Minnesota in the next round.
Nuggets coach Michael Malone meanwhile lavished praise on game-winner Murray, who had also nailed a buzzer-beater in Game 2 of the series.“For Jamal to add to his playoff lore by having two game-winners in a series is just incredible,” Malone said. “The kid’s a warrior man. I can’t say enough good things about Jamal Murray. The bigger the moment, the kid just continues to shine.”
Murray finished with 32 points while teammate Nikola Jokic had 25 points, 20 rebounds and nine assists as the Lakers’ bid to overturn a 3-0 series deficit came up short in front of 19,861 fans at Denver’s Ball Arena.NBA icon James meanwhile finished with 30 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds to lead the Lakers scoring in what was the final act of his 21st season in the NBA.Afterward, James declined to be drawn on his future plans, saying he would now spend time with his family before preparing for this summer’s Olympics.
Asked if Monday’s defeat may have been his last game for the Lakers, James smiled and replied: “I’m not going to answer that.”
Lakers defensive stalwart Anthony Davis, who appeared troubled by a shoulder injury for much of the game, had 17 points with 15 rebounds and four assists.
“They’re a hell of a team,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said of Denver after the defeat.
“They’re defending champs for a reason, I’ve been saying it the entire year, and the entire series, they know how to gut out wins, they’ve been there before.”
Elsewhere Monday, the Oklahoma City Thunder sealed a 4-0 series sweep of the New Orleans Pelicans to book their place in the NBA playoffs second round after completing a 97-89 road victory in Louisiana. —AFP
