The Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Los Angeles Lakers 115-110 to secure a 4-0 series victory in a playoff thriller that could be LeBron James' last ever game of professional basketball.
The NBA's all-time leading scorer notched 24 points, but missed a crucial floater to put his side in the lead in the final 20 seconds in what could be a painful denouement to his glittering playoff career.
"I don't know what the future holds for me, obviously," James said after the game. "As it stands right now tonight, I've got a lot of time. I'll sit back like I think I said last year after we lost to Minnesota, I'll go back and recalibrate with my family and talk with them and spend some time with them.
"When the time comes, obviously, you guys will know what I decide to do."
The No1-seeded Thunder, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's series-high 35 points and Ajay Mitchell's 28, swept their second consecutive playoff opponent to book their place in the Western Conference Finals. They are now eight wins away from successfully defending the NBA championship.
The Lakers' 4-0 series loss was only the fourth series sweep James has endured in a staggering 302 postseason games, but leaves one of the game's greatest-ever players with an uncertain future. His contract has expired after eight seasons with Los Angeles, and, should he choose to return, would enter free agency.
Austin Reaves (27 points) and Rui Hachimura (25 points) led the Lakers in scoring - the latter making an incredible four-point-play in the final two minutes to put the Lakers in the lead - but it was Marcus Smart who gave the home side real hope, making a three-point play to make it 110-109 with just 40.9 seconds on the clock.
The defending champions, though, kept their composure, and a dunk from Chet Holmgren (16 points, 9 rebounds) was followed by four straight made free throws from Gilgeous-Alexander to put the game to bed.
Oklahoma City will now have the chance to rest before facing the winner of the series between Victor Wembanyama's San Antonio Spurs and Anthony Edwards' Minnesota Timberwolves, which is currently tied at 2-2.
James averaged 23.5 points in the series against the defending champions, clearly demonstrating his enduring capability of competing at the highest levels of the game.
But even after the last action of the season, he remained tight-lipped about his future.
"There was so many different seasons in one season," James said. "I'm not looking at my year as a disappointment, that's for damn sure ... I've never been a third [scoring] option.
"I left everything I could on the floor," James said. "I control what I can control, and I can leave the floor saying even though I hate losing, I was locked in on what we needed to do."
"I don't know what the future holds for me ... when the time comes, obviously, you guys will know what I decide to do."
"For me it's about the process. If I can commit to showing up to the arena five hours before a game... doing everything that you know it takes to come out and play... I've always been in love with the process. That will be a big factor.
"I'll have a conversation with my 12-year-old daughter, my 19-year-old son who's entering his second year at Arizona, and my wife as well. They will be a huge part of it as well."
"I haven't even thought about [LeBron's future]," said Lakers head coach JJ Redick.
"We'll deal with the offseason in the offseason, which is the next two months."
Watch the NBA Playoffs live on Your Site. Not got Sky? or
