LeBron James isn’t used to walking out the door so early. For only the second time in his 21 career seasons, the Los Angeles Lakers player was eliminated on Monday, April 29, in the first round of the NBA playoffs.
The star and his California franchise suffered the law of the strongest, in this case the Denver Nuggets, winners 108-106 during the fifth game of a series more closely contested than the final score would suggest (4 sets to 1)
After losing in the first three games, the Lakers managed to win at home in Game 4 to extend the series in Colorado. Monday, as often against the reigning champions, they led for a long time before being caught. And while the score was tied, they gave in during the Nuggets’ last offensive on a basket three seconds from the end of the leader Jamal Murray, imperial (32 points). It was he who had already scored the decisive shot in Game 2 of the series.
Thirty points for LeBron James
At 39, LeBron James finished the game with 30 points, 9 rebounds and 11 assists, remarkable numbers. But insufficient to get rid of the team ranked number one in the West. Last year, the Lakers were swept by these same Nuggets (4-0) in the Western Conference final. The prestigious Los Angeles franchise, winner of the new NBA Cup in December, struggled again during the 2023-2024 regular season, going through the play-offs to reach these playoffs.
LeBron James has an option in his contract that he can activate by June 29 to play an additional year with the legendary California franchise.
Champion last year, Denver continues its journey and will face the Minnesota Timberwolves in the conference semi-final, who outclassed Phoenix (4-0).