Reigning champs send LeBron packing, Giddey clutch as injury flips NBA title race

The NBA playoffs are seriously heating up, with a brutal blow flipping the title race on its head as LeBron James was sent packing.

The NBA playoffs are heating up.

LeBron James’ Los Angeles Lakers have been eliminated from the NBA playoffs and a title contender suffered a major injury blow as two first round series wrapped up on Tuesday (AEST).

The Denver Nuggets once again reeled in a deficit to defeat the Lakers 108-106 to claim a 4-1 series win — the second year in a row they have sent the Lakers packing.

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Jamal Murray entered the game under an injury cloud over a calf strain, but the point guard once again broke Lakers hearts with the go-ahead jump shot with three seconds remaining.

Murray was the hero in Game 2 when he nailed a buzzer beater over the outstretched hands of Anthony Davis to give the reigning NBA champions all the momentum in the series.

“This one’s a little better,” Murray said post-game.

“I’m speechless. It’s a dream come true to do it in front of these fans.”

“I didn’t want to sit,” Murray said post-game of his injury concern.

“The training staff, they’re really cautious with it. They didn’t want it to get worse. I was like, ‘I’m not going to leave my brothers out there’.

Watch Jamal Murray’s game winner against the Lakers in the video above

Jamal Murray nailed another matchwinner against the Lakers. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Jamal Murray has ice in his veins. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

“I got a little emotional in the back. I was like, ‘I’m not sitting. I don’t care what it is we’ve got to figure out’.

“I was just thankful that they let me play and I was able to get this opportunity to actually put that ball in the hoop.”

Murray also had a one-handed dunk on James among his game-high haul of 32 points.

PLAYOFF MURRAY is a different beast

— Chris Vernon (@ChrisVernonShow) April 30, 2024

JAMAL MURRAY AGAIN!!!

— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) April 30, 2024

After sweeping LA in the Western Conference finals last year, the Nuggets have now beaten the Lakers in 11 out of their last 12 match-ups.

The result means 39-year-old James is at a crossroads as he enters the final years of his career looking to play with his son Bronny and add to his four NBA titles.

The Nuggets will play the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round after the Wolves swept Kevin Durant’s Phoenix Suns 4-0.

Kristaps Porzingis was Boston’s X-factor. Photo: Megan Briggs/Getty Images/AFP.

But he limped off with a serious injury. Photo: Megan Briggs/Getty Images/AFP.

Elsewhere, the Boston Celtics took a 3-1 series lead over the Miami Heat but lost big man Kristaps Porzingis to what appeared to be a serious leg injury.

The seven-foot Latvian came up proppy early in the game and needed assistance to leave the court with fears he may have ruptured his Achilles.

In his absence, Derrick White scored a career high 38 points including eight three-pointers to leads the Celtics to a comfortable 102-88 win.

The nature of Porzingis’ injury could determine if Boston can win the four series required to claim their first NBA championship since 2008.

Josh Giddey and the OKC Thunder are rolling. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

Porzingis was recruited along with Jrue Holiday last off-season and was a crucial part of the Celtics’ new look team that cruised to a dominant 64-win season.

Meanwhile, Josh Giddey’s Oklahoma City Thunder passed their first NBA playoffs test with flying colours, defeating the New Orleans Pelicans 97-89 to sweep the first round series 4-0.

Giddey was solid in his 29 minutes of court time, scoring 14 points including two three-pointers to help the Thunder take the lead in the fourth quarter.

OKC beat writer Brandon Rahbar wrote on X: “Jalen Williams and Josh Giddey were outstanding in the 4th quarter. Game-winning performances.”

With an average age of 23.4 years, the Thunder are the youngest team in NBA history to win a playoff series

In the second round, Oklahoma City will take on the winner of the series between the Dallas Mavericks and LA Clippers, which is currently locked at 2-2.

Originally published as Reigning champs send LeBron packing, Giddey clutch as injury flips NBA title race