By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Winning Game 5 at home to close the series at 4-1, the Denver Nuggets put the Los Angeles Lakers out of NBA Playoffs contention thanks to a winning two-pointer by Jamal Murray, who ended with 32 points.
After securing the success in Game 2, the Canadian star replied last night. “Those are shots that you dream of as a little kid. Shout-out to the Lakers, they gave us a great series”, he commented in the aftermath.
Nikola Jokic had a huge double-double of 25 points and 20 rebounds in his team’s 108-106 win, recording an unusual 7 turnovers but going close to another triple-double with 9 assists.
LeBron James went also close to a triple-double with 30 points, 9 rebounds, and 11 assists in the defeat. When asked about this potentially being his last game with the franchise, he kept it silent. “I’m not going to answer that”, he said.
In the Western Conference Semi-Finals, the Denver Nuggets will now face 3rd-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves, who eliminated the Phoenix Suns 4-0 in the First Round.
Jonas Valanciunas is out after losing 4-0 to OKC
Another team in the Western Conference advanced, as the Oklahoma City Thunder swept 4-0 the New Orleans Pelicans after winning 97-89 on the road in Game 4.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who continued his amazing 2023-24 NBA campaign after starting the season with a bronze medal with the Canadian national team at the 2023 FIBA World Cup, led his team with a double-double of 24 points and 10 rebounds.
“To win basketball games, a lot goes into it. We just know those little things come with winning and we do it every opportunity we get”, he commented in the post-game press conference.
On the losing side, Jonas Valanciunas provided a double-double of 19 points and 13 rebounds, shooting 7/8 at the line and 6/15 from the field, but his team got officially eliminated.
The Oklahoma City Thunder will now face the winner of the series between the Dallas Mavericks and the Los Angeles Clippers, which is currently tied at 2-2, in the Western Conference Semi-Finals.
PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images