Jamal Murray delivered a clutch 14-foot jumper with just four seconds remaining, propelling the Denver Nuggets to a thrilling 108-106 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series. This decisive shot secured a 4-1 series win for the second-seeded Nuggets, who now advance to face the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference semifinals starting Saturday in Denver.
Despite playing through a strained left calf, Jamal Murray shone brightly in the fourth quarter, scoring 12 of his game-high 32 points when it mattered most. Nikola Jokic contributed significantly with 25 points, an impressive 20 rebounds, nine assists, and seven turnovers. Michael Porter Jr. also played a crucial role, adding 26 points to the Nuggets’ winning effort, while Aaron Gordon pulled down 13 rebounds.
LeBron James led the charge for the seventh-seeded Lakers with 30 points, 11 assists, and nine rebounds, while Anthony Davis fought through an injured left shoulder to contribute 17 points and 15 rebounds. The game came down to the wire, with Taurean Prince missing a long 3-point attempt at the buzzer that would have altered the outcome.
Celtics Dominate Heat Behind White’s Heroics
In another playoff matchup, Derrick White’s career-high 38 points powered the Boston Celtics to a commanding 102-88 victory over the Miami Heat, seizing a 3-1 lead in their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series. White shot an impressive 15-for-26 from the field, including 8-for-15 from beyond the arc, while Jayson Tatum added 20 points and 11 rebounds to Boston’s winning performance.
Despite the victory, the Celtics faced a setback when Kristaps Porzingis suffered a calf injury in the first half. For the Heat, Bam Adebayo led the charge with 25 points and 17 rebounds, while Tyler Herro and Caleb Martin contributed 19 and 18 points, respectively.
Thunder Complete Sweep of Pelicans
In a decisive sweep, the Oklahoma City Thunder secured a 97-89 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans, advancing to the Western Conference semifinals. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams each scored 24 points, with Gilgeous-Alexander also grabbing 10 rebounds. Williams played a pivotal role in a crucial 10-0 fourth-quarter run that sealed the victory for the Thunder.
The Pelicans struggled offensively throughout the series, failing to score more than 92 points in any game. CJ McCollum led New Orleans with 20 points, supported by Jonas Valanciunas’ 19 points and 13 rebounds. The Thunder now await their opponent in the next round, either the Los Angeles Clippers or the Dallas Mavericks.
