Game 5 between the Lakers and Nuggets was a nail-biter. But there was no coming back for LA when Anthony Davis’ playtime was cut short. With a 108-106 win in favor of the Denver Nuggets, the Los Angeles Lakers are officially eliminated from the postseason. Magic Johnson, who’s won five titles for the franchise, was obviously rooting for the purple and gold. He is wallowing in disappointment like the rest of the Laker nation but still commended them for a valiant effort.

He was on X right after the game concluded. “The Lakers gave a great team effort to try to extend the series, but they just couldn’t manage the load after AD got injured early in the third quarter,” Magic wrote.

Anthony Davis was carrying the team for most of the series. But this deciding Game 5 was when he put up 17 points, 15 rebounds, 4 assists, and two blocks, making 8 out of 11 field goals and 1 of 2 free throws over the span of 40 minutes. That is after matching Shaquille O’Neal’s and Wilt Chamberlain’s franchise records in Game 4.

When the Lakers were holding a 56-50 lead in the third quarter, Davis bumped into Michael Porter Jr. in the post. He was on the floor for several minutes clutching his shoulder till others helped him to his feet. He tried to continue playing through obvious pain and he seemed to have only one one arm functioning effectively. Eventually, he had to step out off the court when the injury became too difficult to ignore.

AD made his way back to the court for the fourth quarter. It was, however, not enough to close that very narrow gap. The Lakers ultimately saw a first-round exit for the second time in 4 years. Nevertheless, everyone in the organization praised AD’s explosive playoff performance this post-season. The 5x Lakers champ couldn’t resist either.

Magic Johnson got excited too soon

Before the game ended, the Lakers had a marginal lead and The Brow was still playing. Magic Johnson was prematurely excited and jumped on X with his prediction. “Laker Nation – I’m feeling good about the Lakers today!” he wrote. He should’ve stopped there. But he instead added that he was loving the team’s momentum and, “I think they’re going to win tonight.”

Fans were in uproar and not in a good way. He was flooded with pleas to not say it out loud and jinx it. Inevitably, the momentum changed with AD’s injury. Now Magic and the Laker Nation are nursing bruised feelings on their team’s exit.

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Regardless, Magic was thrilled by the display today, especially by Denver’s Jamal Murray. He bounced back from a questionable status and made the game-winning shot that took the Nuggets to the second round. He said the Lakers didn’t have an answer to Jamal and it showed. Without the Lakers now, the Nuggets will have more of Magic’s attention. Let’s hope he doesn’t jinx them before a game ends.