The NBA playoffs is not going to see LeBron James, Kevin Durant or Stephen Curry within the second spherical for the primary time since 2005. James and the Los Angeles Lakers have been eradicated in 5 video games by the Denver Nuggets on Monday night time.
This got here after Durant and the Phoenix Suns have been swept by the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday. In fact, Curry and the Golden State Warriors didn’t make the playoffs because the tenth seed within the Western Convention with a 46-36 document.
Within the Lakers’ 108-106 Sport 5 loss to Denver, James drained two free throws to even the rating at 106 with 26 seconds left. After a timeout, Nuggets star Jamal Murray superior the ball on a excessive screen-and-roll to his left and swished the game-winning shot.
No LeBron, KD or Steph within the second spherical for the primary time since 2005. pic.twitter.com/eH2Oa9h4Pd
— StatMuse (@statmuse) April 30, 2024
“To begin with, tip your hat to them,” James mentioned. “Defending champions. They’re nice staff. Tremendous-well coached and made the performs down the stretch to win the collection. You give credit score the place credit score is due, that’s for certain.”
Jamal Murray hit the game-winning buzzer-beater in Sport 2 and series-winning subject purpose with 4 seconds left in Sport 5. Based on ESPN Stats & Info, he grew to become the primary participant within the final 25 seasons with a number of go-ahead subject targets within the remaining 5 seconds of a single playoff collection.
LeBron James has misplaced two first-round playoff collection throughout his 21-year profession, Kevin Durant swept twice in final three playoffs
Moreover, the Lakers additionally misplaced within the first spherical for the primary time since 2021 towards Phoenix. James hasn’t appeared within the NBA Finals with Los Angeles because the Orlando Bubble in 2020.
“I couldn’t be extra pleased with our crew regardless of every thing that occurred,” mentioned Lakers coach Darvin Ham. “Clearly, the collection didn’t go in our favor, didn’t begin the best way we needed it to, however to win that one at house, struggle tooth and nail at present to get this one, our guys confirmed a variety of guts and a variety of character.”
In the meantime, Kevin Durant has now been swept twice in his final three playoffs — each within the first spherical. With the Brooklyn Nets, the 14-time All-Star misplaced 4 straight to the Boston Celtics in 2022.
The final time none of LeBron James, Stephen Curry or Kevin Durant made it previous the primary spherical this stuff didn’t exist pic.twitter.com/p23sjqiIc8
— Automated (@automaticnba) April 30, 2024
Durant and the Suns misplaced 122-116 to the Timberwolves in Sport 4 on Sunday. The 16-year veteran went 13 straight seasons and not using a sweep from 2007-08 to 2020-21.
When requested about his future, Durant hinted that he enjoys enjoying with Phoenix.
Stephen Curry additionally missed the playoffs for the sixth time of his 15-year profession and first since 2021.
Based on ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, LeBron James could choose out of his present contract to grow to be a free agent for the primary time since 2018.
