NBA play-offs: LA Lakers knocked out by defending champions Denver Nuggets

LeBron James’ Los Angeles Lakers were knocked out of the NBA play-offs as the Denver Nuggets completed a 4-1 series win in the Western Conference.

In the fifth game of the best-of-seven series, defending champions the Nuggets won a tense encounter 108-106.

Jamal Murray scored 32 points, including the winner with just 3.6 seconds left when the scores were tied.

James’ 30 points and 11 assists were in vain for the Lakers.

The NBA’s all-time leading points scorer was chasing his fifth title and his first with the Lakers since 2020.

But when asked about his future, James would not confirm whether he had played his last game for the Lakers.

“I’m not going to answer that,” he said.

“I just want to get home to the family, honestly, and start looking at the schedule.”

He said that after spending some time with his family, he will travel to Las Vegas for a USA Basketball training camp ahead of the Olympics.