NBA: Murray Drops 43 as Nuggets Take 3-2 Lead Over Clippers

On Tuesday night, the Denver Nuggets took control of their first-round NBA playoff series by defeating the Los Angeles Clippers. The team gets their third win with a 131-115 lead in Game 5 at Ball Arena. With the win, Denver now leads the series 3-2 and is just one game away from advancing.

The star of the night was Jamal Murray, who lit up the scoreboard with 43 points and made eight three-pointers. Russell Westbrook added a huge spark off the bench, scoring 21 points and energizing the crowd.

Murray was nearly unstoppable. He hit 17 of his 26 shots from the field and went 8-of-14 from three-point range. This performance marked his sixth career playoff game with at least 40 points, setting a new franchise high for the Nuggets. His eight threes tied him for fifth-most in NBA playoff history in a single game. He is only behind legends like Klay Thompson, Damian Lillard, Ray Allen, and Stephen Curry.

Denver’s interim coach David Adelman praised Murray’s poise and confidence in big games, saying, “These big moments, these situations. He was born for this.” Murray also added seven assists and five rebounds to complete his all-around performance. This was his first 40-point game since scoring 55 back in February against Portland. He had recently missed six games due to a hamstring injury but shrugged it off, saying, “That was like four weeks ago.”

Despite his big night, Murray emphasized it was a team effort. “Everybody was in a really good rhythm tonight. That was a big reason why we got the win,” he said. He also noted that playing loose and having fun helped him find his groove. “When I just have fun and I don’t think about it, we get games like this—not just from me, but from everybody.”

Westbrook, who missed Game 4 with a foot injury, was cleared to play just before tip-off. He entered the game late in the first quarter with Denver up 25-17 and made an immediate impact. In just 13 minutes, he scored 16 points, helping the Nuggets hold a 58-50 lead at halftime. His energy was electric, hitting back-to-back threes in the second quarter and constantly engaging with Clippers players and the Denver crowd.

By the end of the game, Westbrook had 21 points on 8-of-15 shooting and was 3-of-6 from beyond the arc. He spoke afterward about how much he values bringing energy to his team. “It’s important, man,” he said. “It’s something that can will your team to victory… I take pride in being prepared to bring that every night.”

On the Clippers’ side, James Harden had a rough outing. He managed only 11 points on 3-of-9 shooting and committed four turnovers. Though he added eight rebounds and five assists, he seemed off rhythm throughout the night. He also had a series-low 35 touches, and the Clippers scored 23 points on possessions where he touched the ball. According to Coach Adelman, part of that was thanks to Christian Braun’s defense. “There’s a lot of asks going on for Christian with James Harden,” Adelman said. “But CB’s never scared of the moment.”

Other notable performances included Ivica Zubac, who led the Clippers with 27 points on 11-of-15 shooting. Kawhi Leonard added 20 points and dished out 11 assists. On Denver’s side, Nikola Jokić didn’t have his best shooting night—just 13 points on 4-of-13—but still recorded a triple-double with 12 assists and 10 rebounds. Aaron Gordon chipped in 23 points, while Michael Porter Jr. and Christian Braun scored 14 and 11, respectively.

Overall, Murray and Westbrook combined to shoot 61% from the field and knocked down 11 threes together, matching the Clippers’ team, which had 11 made three-pointers.

After the win, Coach Adelman reminded everyone not to get too comfortable. He recalled how the Nuggets won Game 5 last season against the Timberwolves but ended up losing Games 6 and 7. “If you start thinking ahead—‘Hey, this is how the story’s going to end’—if you write a conclusion, I think you’re in trouble,” he said.

Game 6 will be on the road this time in Los Angeles, making the challenge even tougher. The Nuggets will need to stay focused and draw on lessons from the past if they want to close out the series.

Now holding a 3-2 lead, Denver has a real opportunity to finish things off on Thursday. But this exciting series could still go the distance if the Clippers bounce back.