Lakers' LeBron James on Jamal Murray's Game-Winners: 'What the F--k Do You Do?'

Even Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James doesn't know how to stop Denver Nuggets point guard Jamal Murray from scoring.

Murray hit two game-winning shots in five contests as the Nuggets eliminated the Lakers from the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs.

"He had two game-winners in the series. One was a step-back going right, the other was a step-back going left. So, what the f--k do you do?" James said on Wednesday's episode of the Mind the Game Pod he hosts with JJ Redick.

James added, "And yes, we could have played the last one a little better defensively. But that's a different story."

Murray drove down the middle and made the game-deciding shot with seconds left as Nikola Jokić screened Lakers defenders in the fourth quarter of a tied Game 5 on April 30.

That series-clinching shot followed Murray's game-winner to complete Denver's 20-point comeback in Game 2.

James gave Murray, who averaged 23.6 points per game during the first-round series, credit for combining with Jokić to ensure the Lakers' defeat.

"It starts with Joker, but I don't think Jamal Murray gets enough credit," James told Redick. "People get caught up in just thinking it's just Joker, Joker, Joker. How do you stop Joker. Man, when it comes to nut-crunching time, yes, Joker gonna make a lot of plays. It's that motherf--ker Jamal Murray that will send you home, and I'm a victim of it."

James continued: "He just makes plays. It's a sense of calmness when the ball is in his hand... he has the ability to go back door. He's so shifty, with the step-backs, going right. You can't even dictate which way."

The series victory marked the second time in two postseasons James and the Lakers have been eliminated by Murray and the Nuggets. Los Angeles won one game between the two series.

The Nuggets are set to play Game 3 of the second round against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday. Murray was held to eight points in Monday's Game 2 as the defending champions fell into a 2-0 series hole.