The NBA playoffs will not see LeBron James, Kevin Durant or Stephen Curry in the second round for the first time since 2005. James and the Los Angeles Lakers were swept in five games by the Denver Nuggets on Monday night.
This happened after Durant and the Phoenix Suns were swept by the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday. Of course, Curry and the Golden State Warriors failed to make the playoffs as the 10th seed in the Western Conference with a 46-36 record.
In the Lakers' 108-106 Game 5 loss to Denver, James made two free throws to tie the game at 106 with 26 seconds left. Later, Nuggets star Jamal Murray advanced the ball on a high screen to his left and drained the game-winning shot.
No LeBron, KD or Steph in the second round for the first time since 2005. pic.twitter.com/eH2Oa9h4Pd
– StatMuse (@statmuse) April 30, 2024
“First, give them your hat,” said James. “The defending champions. They are a great team. He is very well coached and makes plays down to win the series. He gives credit where it's due, that's for sure.”
Jamal Murray hit the game-winning buzzer-beater in Game 2 and the series-winning field goal with four seconds left in Game 5. According to ESPN Stats & Information, he became the first player in the last 25 seasons to have the streak. goals in the final five seconds of one playoff series.
LeBron James has lost two playoff series in the first round in his entire 21-year career, Kevin Durant has swept twice in the last three games
In addition, the Lakers also lost in the first round since 2021 against Phoenix. James has not appeared in the NBA Finals with Los Angeles since the Orlando Bubble in 2020.
“I couldn't be more proud of our team after everything that happened,” said Lakers coach Darvin Ham. “Obviously the series didn't go in our favor, it didn't start the way we wanted, but to win the one at home, we fought tooth and nail today to get this one, our boys showed a lot of determination. a lot of character.”
Meanwhile, Kevin Durant has now been swept twice in his last three games – both in the first round. With the Brooklyn Nets, the 14-time All-Star has lost four straight to the Boston Celtics in 2022.
In the end, none of LeBron James, Stephen Curry or Kevin Durant made it past the first round. pic.twitter.com/p23sjqiIc8
– Automatic (@automaticnba) April 30, 2024
Durant and the Suns lost 122-116 to the Timberwolves in Game 4 on Sunday. The 16-year veteran went 13 consecutive seasons without a sweep from 2007-08 to 2020-21.
Asked about his future, Durant revealed that he loves playing with Phoenix.
Stephen Curry also missed the playoffs for the sixth time in his 15-year career and the first time since 2021.
According to Brian Windhorst of ESPN, LeBron James may opt out of his current contract to become a free agent for the first time since 2018.
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