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Nuggets advance to face Timberwolves after Murray's game-winner ends Lakers' season. Drama-filled series sees James' early playoff exit.

Murray's clutch buzzer-beater sends LeBron packing in a thrilling Game 5 showdown.

Jamal Murray is the definition of clutch. Battling a calf injury and resisting his team's pleas to sit out, the Denver Nuggets star delivered a 32-point performance and a series-clinching buzzer-beater in Game 5 against the Los Angeles Lakers. His heroic shot sent LeBron James into an uncharacteristically early playoff exit and propelled the Nuggets into Round 2 with a thrilling 108-106 victory.

In a back-and-forth battle that saw 16 lead changes, Murray once again proved he belongs in the pantheon of playoff legends. His go-ahead shot with just 3.6 seconds left is his second buzzer-beater of the series, making him the first player in 25 years with multiple game-winners in the final seconds of a playoff round.

"Those are shots that you dream of as a little kid," said Murray. "This one just feels a little better."

Murray's defiance paid off. Despite his injury and a 23-game absence earlier in the season, he refused to sit this one out. "I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I wasn't able to play this game," he declared.

Teammate Nikola Jokic narrowly missed a triple-double but still dominated with 25 points, 20 rebounds, and 9 assists. The Lakers' star duo of James (30 points, 11 assists) and Anthony Davis (17 points, 15 rebounds) put up a valiant fight, but it wasn't enough against the reigning champions.

The Nuggets will now face a well-rested Minnesota Timberwolves squad in a highly anticipated second-round matchup. Denver's home-court advantage could be the difference-maker after this hard-fought victory over the Lakers.