DENVER — In Game 4 of their first-round playoff series with the Denver Nuggets, the Clippers didn’t lead until a thrilling 32-9 run gave them a late one-point lead before they lost on a walk-off dunk. The Nuggets built another 22-point lead in the fourth quarter of Game 5 on Tuesday night, but they kept this one safe and sound.
The Clippers inched closer at times, but Nuggets guard Jamal Murray erupted for 43 points, seeming to dash every Clippers’ surge with one of his eight 3-point baskets in a 131-115 win.
The Nuggets have a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series, with Game 6 on Thursday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood.
The Clippers went on a 17-4 run fourth-quarter run to cut their 22-point deficit to single digits at 116-107, but the Nuggets fended off another frenetic finish by going on an 11-0 run with Murray scoring six and Aaron Gordon five to compel Clippers coach Tyronn Lue to empty his bench. The dagger was a Murray 30-foot pull-up jumper from the top of the key with 2:13 left.
Murray shot 17 for 26 from the field (8 for 14 from 3-point range), working his way inside then out throughout the game. He started his night with a dunk, found some touch from the midrange and eventually it seemed like he couldn’t miss from behind the arc.
Russell Westbrook chipped in 21 in his return from a foot injury, Game 4 hero Gordon scored 23 and Nikola Jokic posted his 21st career playoff triple-double (18 points, 10 rebounds, 12 assists).
Ivica Zubac led the Clippers with a playoff career-high 27 points, and Kawhi Leonard had 20 as they lost back-to-back games for the first time since March 4. After a slow start, Leonard finished 8-of-15 shooting to go with nine rebounds and a season-high 11 assists. It was his first game with double-digit assists since recording a triple-double against the Lakers in January of 2024.
The Clippers got good help from the supporting cast, particularly Bogdan Bogdanovic (18 points, five assists) and Kris Dunn (15 points). Bogdanovic’s point total was more than he had scored in the first four games of the series combined. He brought energy to the third-quarter surge when he and former Clipper Westbrook talked themselves into double technical fouls after a hard foul.
After missing Game 4 with his injury, Westbrook scored 16 of his 21 in the first half and finished 8-of-15 shooting (3 for 6 from 3-point range) off the bench.
Down by double digits for much of the third quarter, the Clippers got within eight points with a 7-0 run that included a Bogdan Bogdanovic corner 3-pointer, a Kawhi Leonard tip-in and steal, then a Norman Powell layup. They never pulled any closer.
In NBA history, teams that win Game 5 when a best-of-seven series is tied 2-2 go on to win 81% of the time (191-44).
More to come on this story.
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