Jamal Murray reminded everyone why he’s one of the NBA’s premier playoff performers, exploding for 43 points to lead the Denver Nuggets to a 131-115 win over the LA Clippers in Game 5. With the victory, Denver seized a 3-2 lead in a first-round series that has tilted their way after a rough start.
After four uneven games, Murray finally broke free. He shot 17-of-26 from the field, made eight 3-pointers, and outdueled Clippers defensive ace Kris Dunn in their most pivotal matchup yet. “He was born for this,” said interim head coach David Adelman. “He’s always been a big-moment player.”
Murray’s performance wasn’t just about scoring. He shifted the tone of the game early, weaving through LA’s defense for an uncontested dunk and repeatedly beating traps and doubles that had stifled him in earlier games. The Clippers had succeeded in crowding Murray and Nikola Jokić through the first three contests, but Game 5 was a complete reversal.
For the first time this series, Murray was clearly better than Dunn, using craft, patience, and a varied offensive approach to keep the Clippers guessing. “He challenges me, and I challenge him,” Murray said. “It’s what the playoffs are for.”
Jokić, the reigning Finals MVP, had a quiet night statistically — just 13 points on 4-of-13 shooting — but Denver didn’t need his scoring. With Murray hot and help from others, the Nuggets thrived offensively. Aaron Gordon added 23 points, taking advantage of smaller defenders, while Russell Westbrook delivered 21 off the bench, including 16 in the first half.
The Nuggets shot 55% from the field and 51% from deep, their best offensive performance of the series. That production wasn’t random — it was the result of key adjustments from Adelman and his staff. Denver moved Jokić to the sides of the floor to avoid blindside double-teams and attacked favorable matchups, particularly targeting James Harden and Norman Powell defensively.
Westbrook credited improved spacing and tempo: “When Jamal is aggressive like that, we’re a different team. And when he plays with that swagger, we’re tough to beat.”
The Nuggets’ turnaround has been sharp. After a lopsided 117-83 loss in Game 3, they’ve won two straight — both by building 22-point leads. In Game 4, they nearly squandered it. In Game 5, they closed the door.
Denver now heads to Los Angeles for Thursday’s Game 6 with a chance to close the series. Still, the message from the team is clear: stay focused.
“We’ve grown into this series,” Murray said. “It’s about covering for each other, playing hard, and figuring it out as a group.”
If Tuesday night was any indication, the Nuggets may have figured out just enough to finish the job.
