Murray hits one other game-winner to guide Nuggets previous the Lakers – Arizona Sports activities

PHOENIX SUNS
Apr 29, 2024, 10:30 PM
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray seems again on the Los Angeles Lakers bench after hitting a 3-point basket late within the second half of Recreation 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff sequence Monday, April 29, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photograph/David Zalubowski)
(AP Photograph/David Zalubowski)
BY ASSOCIATED PRESS
DENVER (AP) — Jamal Murray scored 32 factors regardless of a strained calf and sank the game-winner with 3.6 seconds left because the defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets bounced LeBron James from the playoffs once more with a 108-106 win over the Los Angeles Lakers in Recreation 5 Monday night time.
James’ two free throws tied it at 106 with 26 seconds left and the Nuggets, simply as they did in Recreation 2, eschewed the timeout and Murray took the ball on a excessive display screen and roll to his left, shaking Austin Reaves as he crossed via the lane and swished the 14-footer.
It was Murray’s buzzer beater that additionally gained Recreation 2.
“This one was a little bit higher,” Murray mentioned as confetti swirled round him and his celebrating teammates.
Nuggets coach Michael Malone mentioned he had “the utmost confidence” in Murray making the game-winner. “That’s why I didn’t name a timeout. Let the very best two-game sport within the enterprise play their sport and get to their spots.”
Nikola Jokic, who dedicated an uncharacteristic seven turnovers, narrowly missed his nineteenth profession playoff triple-double with 25 factors, 20 rebounds and 9 assists and Michael Porter Jr. scored 26.
James had 30 factors and 11 assists and Davis had 17 factors and 15 rebound however appeared bothered down the stretch after banging his left shoulder into MPJ within the second half.
The Nuggets superior to face the Minnesota Timberwolves within the second spherical beginning subsequent weekend. That sequence begins in Denver, the place the Nuggets are a Western Convention-best 36-8, together with 3-0 within the playoffs.
Not that it’s been simple.
The Nuggets trailed for about three-fourths of the minutes on this sequence, they scuffled via prolonged capturing slumps and so they’re a banged-up bunch that may positively use the remainder.
The Nuggets, who swept the Lakers within the Western Convention finals final summer season on their solution to successful the franchise’s first NBA championship, beat the Lakers for the twelfth time of their final 13 video games.
The one different time James was eradicated within the first spherical of the playoffs got here in 2021 when the Phoenix Suns beat L.A. in six video games.
So, this was the shortest of James’ 17 journeys to the playoffs, the place he’s now 183-104 general with a 41-13 sequence document and 4 titles.
After warming up with an ice pack on his injured calf, Murray received medical clearance to play. He wasn’t his ordinary explosive self on drives to the basket — at first — however he managed 16 factors within the first half, together with 12 within the first quarter which ended with Denver forward (28-24) for the primary time all sequence.
The Lakers led 53-50 at halftime and pushed that benefit to 9 factors however the Nuggets closed on a 21-10 run to take an 81-79 lead into the fourth quarter that was tight till the buzzer.
Malone mentioned it was an emotional scene earlier than the sport when he allowed Murray to play.
“He simply informed me, ‘I’m glad I performed as a result of I don’t know if we win if I don’t play tonight.’ I mentioned, ‘Properly, that’s the understatement of the yr,” Malone recounted. “That child’s a warrior, man. The larger the second, the child simply continues to shine.”
Taurean Prince heaved up a contested half-courter that fell brief as time expired, sending the Lakers to an early exit regardless of taking the defending champs to the brink in all 5 video games.
“I couldn’t be extra pleased with our crew regardless of the whole lot that occurred,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham mentioned. “Clearly, the sequence didn’t go in our favor, didn’t begin the way in which we wished it to, however to win that one at residence, combat tooth and nail in the present day to get this one, our guys confirmed loads of guts and loads of character and that resilience to proceed to combat.”
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