Defending champion Denver Nuggets eliminate James and his LA Lakers

NOS Sports•today, 10:50

The Denver Nuggets have reached the second round of the NBA play-offs at the expense of the Los Angeles Lakers. The reigning champion was too strong against the team around LeBron James 108-106 in the fifth match, taking a decisive 4-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Lakers star James, in his 21st season in the American professional league and good for 30 points in Denver, was eliminated in the first round for the second time in his career. The 39-year-old forward, who has four NBA titles to his name with three different teams, did not comment afterwards whether this was his last appearance for the Lakers.

Just like the four previous confrontations, this match also had an exciting course. The chances varied by the minute and four seconds before the end, Jamal Murray, who was unsure whether he would be able to play due to a calf injury, scored the winning score. The match winner was also the top scorer of the evening with 32 points.

The Nuggets will meet the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round, which had already won the fourth game against Phoenix Suns on Sunday. Oklahoma City Thunder performed the same on Monday against the New Orleans Pelicans.