Nuggets end Lakers’ season in dramatic fashion as Messi watches Celtics triumph in Miami

The Nuggets beat the Lakers at home 108-106 (24-28, 22-29, 31-26, 27-27) and won the series 4-1. In the next round, defending champions Denver will face the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The leading team changed as many as 16 times in the meeting, and the result was equal 10 times. In the end, everything was decided in the last half and in the seconds of this one.

With just over a minute left to play, LeBron James made a breakaway to make the score 104-103 in favor of the Lakers. On the other side of the field, Aaron Gordon caught a very important ball in the attack after an inaccurate two-pointer by J. Murray. The forward returned the game tool to the Nuggets offensive player, who nailed a three-pointer – 106-104.

L. James took the initiative again and drew a foul to tie the score with 26.1 seconds left for Denver to respond. The team decided not to take a minute break and entrusted the ball to J. Murray – he burned up almost the entire time and hit a difficult two-pointer through Austin Reaves.

The guests did not have a minute of breaks and a desperate shot from the middle of the field did not change anything. This is just the second time in James’ career that he has been eliminated in the first round of the NBA playoffs.

Nuggets: J. Murray 32 (7 assists), M. Porter Jr. 26 (5/7 thirds), N. Jokičius 25 (20 rebounds, 9 assists, 7 fouls).

Lakers: L. James 30 (11 assists, 9 rebounds), A. Davis 17 (15 rebounds), A. Reaves 19, R. Hachimura 15, D. Russell 14.

In the next meeting, the Boston Celtics defeated the Miami Heat 102:88 (34:24, 19:12, 28:23, 21:29) on the road and lead the series 3:1.

The fifth and possibly decisive game will be played in Boston.

The match in Miami was watched by Lionel Messi, who saw Celtics guard Derrick White record 38 points in his career (8/15 threes). However, the Boston team lost Kristaps Porzingis in the first half of the match – it seems that the Latvian suffered a calf injury and left the arena with a special brace.

The Heat continue to struggle without the injured Jimmy Butler and Terry Rozier.

Heat: B. Adebayo 25 (17 rebounds), T. Herro 19, C. Martinas 18.

Celtics: White 38 (8/15), Tatum 20 (11), Brown 17, Holiday 11.