With only 3.6 seconds remaining on Monday night, Jamal Murray overcame a strained left calf, the management’s suggestion that he sit this one out, and another haymaker from the Los Angeles Lakers to score 32 points and sink the game-winning basket.

The Denver Nuggets advanced to Round 2 with a 108-106 victory in Game 5, which included 16 lead changes, 10 ties, and was only decided when Taurean Prince’s halfcourt heave failed with seconds remaining. This resulted in LeBron James suffering his earliest playoff elimination ever.
“We appreciate the Lakers for a fantastic series,” remarked Murray, who in Game 2 also drained the team’s first-ever playoff buzzer-beater.

Murray described this shot as just “a little better,” saying, “Those are shots that you dream of as a little kid.”

Had it not been for his unwavering perseverance and resistance, Murray would never have had the opportunity to win the series.

Murray warmed up with an ice pack strapped to his injured calf. “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,” Murray said. “They declined to speak with me. They declined to say no.

“I also didn’t refuse. Murray continued, “I didn’t want to leave my teammates out there. I missed 23 games in 2023–2024 due to injuries. “This season, we have been at war. Everyone gets harmed at some point and experiences something, and if I couldn’t play this game, I just couldn’t live with myself.

“I’m just glad they listened to me – and listened to me listening to my body – and just trusting me with it.”

With 26 seconds remaining, James’ two free throws tied the score at 106. The Nuggets, like they did in Game 2, decided not to call a timeout and Murray took the ball on a high screen-and-roll to his left, dishing away the ball to Austin Reaves as he went through the lane and swishing the 14-foot shot.

The Nuggets’ coach, Michael Malone, remarked, “That kid’s a warrior, man.” “The bigger the moment, the kid just continues to shine.”

With 30 points and 11 assists, LeBron James

Michael Porter Jr. scored 26 points, while Nikola Jokic, who had an unusual seven turnovers, came dangerously close to recording his 19th career playoff triple-double with 25 points, 20 rebounds, and nine assists.

James finished with 30 points, 11 assists, and 15 rebounds. Anthony Davis, who had struck MPJ with his left shoulder in the second half, seemed troubled towards the end of the game.

Next weekend, the Nuggets will take on the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round of the playoffs. Denver, home of the Nuggets, who are 36-8 overall and 3-0 in the postseason, leads the Western Conference. That series will begin there.

It wasn’t that simple, though.

The Nuggets trailed for over three-fourths of the game during this series, struggled through protracted shooting slumps, and are a seriously injured team that could use more rest.

James said, “Tip your hat to them first.” “Supporting winners. They make a fantastic team. a skillful coach who made the plays needed to win the series in the final moments. You definitely give credit where credit is due.”

After Davis scored 16 points in the first half, Murray’s total, the Lakers lead 53–50 at the break. They increased their lead to nine points, but the Nuggets responded with a 21-10 run to conclude the half with an 81-79 lead that remained close until the final whistle.

The Nuggets defeated the Lakers for the twelfth time in their previous 13 meetings, having previously defeated them in the Western Conference finals last summer en route to the team’s first NBA title.


The Phoenix Suns defeated Los Angeles in six games in 2021, the only other time James was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.

Thus, even though the Lakers pushed the defending champions to the limit in each of the five games, this was James’ shortest postseason run in his 17 years.


“Despite everything that transpired, I couldn’t be more proud of our crew,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham, who will undoubtedly come under fire, stated. “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.”