DENVER — Jamal Murray didn’t just show up Tuesday night. He detonated. The Denver Nuggets’ star guard poured in a scorching 43 points, sinking eight 3-pointers, to fuel a commanding 131-115 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 5 of their Western Conference first-round playoff series. With the win, Denver seized a 3-2 lead, one step from closing out the series and punching a ticket to the next round.
The Ball Arena crowd buzzed from the opening tip, sensing something special. Murray, who’d been battling a nagging hamstring issue late in the regular season, looked like he’d shed every ounce of rust. He carved through the Clippers’ defense with surgical precision, dropping 17 of 26 shots from the field. His eight triples set a new Ball Arena playoff record for points by a single player, a mark that had fans roaring and Clippers defenders grasping at air. By the time he drained a fallaway jumper late in the fourth, Denver’s lead was a cozy 20, and the game was effectively over.
Nikola Jokic, the Nuggets’ three-time MVP, didn’t need to dominate for once. He still notched his third triple-double of the series—13 points, 10 rebounds, 12 assists—despite a rare off-night shooting, going 4 for 13. Aaron Gordon chipped in 23 points, including a clutch 3-pointer that snuffed out a brief Clippers rally. Russell Westbrook, back after missing Game 4 with a foot injury, added 21 points off the bench, his energy palpable in a 15-point third quarter that stretched Denver’s lead to 16.
The Clippers, who hadn’t dropped back-to-back games since early March, couldn’t find their rhythm. Ivica Zubac led them with 27 points, and Kawhi Leonard delivered 20 points, 11 assists, and nine rebounds, but James Harden was shackled to just 11 points on 3-for-9 shooting. Los Angeles hung tough early, trailing 67-59 at halftime, but Denver’s 10-2 run to open the third quarter—sparked by 3-pointers from Murray and Michael Porter Jr.—blew the game open. A late 17-4 Clippers surge in the fourth cut the gap to nine, but Murray answered with 11 straight points, either scoring or assisting, to slam the door shut.
Denver’s dominance wasn’t just Murray’s heroics. The Nuggets shot a blistering 51.5% from beyond the arc, hitting 17 of 33 attempts. Porter added 14 points and 12 rebounds, while Christian Braun contributed 11 points and 12 boards. The team’s depth overwhelmed a Clippers squad that saw six players reach double figures but lacked the firepower to match Denver’s onslaught.
This wasn’t the nail-biter of Game 4, where Gordon’s buzzer-beating putback secured a 101-99 win. Tuesday’s game was a statement. Denver led wire-to-wire, never letting the Clippers closer than eight points after the first quarter. Murray, who’d been quiet in Game 4 with just 13 points, flipped a switch, delivering his sixth 40-point playoff game in a Nuggets uniform—more than anyone in franchise history.
The series now shifts back to Los Angeles for Game 6 on May 1. A Nuggets win would send them to face Oklahoma City in the second round. A Clippers victory would force a do-or-die Game 7 in Denver. For now, Murray’s masterpiece has the Nuggets riding high, their championship pedigree shining through.
Game 5 box score: Denver 131, Clippers 115. Murray: 43 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals. Jokic: 13 points, 10 rebounds, 12 assists. Gordon: 23 points, 4 rebounds. Westbrook: 21 points, 3 3-pointers. Zubac: 27 points, 6 rebounds. Leonard: 20 points, 11 assists, 9 rebounds. Harden: 11 points, 3-for-9 shooting.