Jamal Murray Drops 43, Nuggets Crush Clippers 131-115

April 29, 11:36 PDT

Keypoints Summary: Jamal Murray Drops 43

Jamal Murray explodes for 43 points in Game 5
Nikola Jokic records 21st playoff triple-double
Clippers now down 3-2 and facing elimination
Denver one win away from Western Conference semis
Game 6 set for Thursday at Intuit Dome

THE CLIPPERS MELTDOWN CONTINUES AS NUGGETS DOMINATE!

The Denver Nuggets are charging full-speed toward the Western Conference semifinals — and the Los Angeles Clippers are hanging by a thread. With Jamal Murray playing like a man possessed, the Nuggets overwhelmed the Clippers 131-115 in a firestorm of a Game 5 that pushed the series to 3-2 in favor of Denver.

Murray was simply unstoppable, torching LA for 43 points on 17-of-26 shooting, including a red-hot 8-of-14 from deep. He didn’t just light it up — he lit a match, dropped it, and watched the Clippers go up in flames.

“We’re not done yet,” Murray told reporters after the game. “But this was a statement. This is who we are.”

WESTBROOK RETURNS, BUT IT’S NOT ENOUGH

In a twist that briefly gave Clippers fans hope, Russell Westbrook returned from a foot injury and made an immediate impact, dropping 21 points and bringing back the energy the Clippers were sorely missing in Game 4. But his fiery return couldn’t cool down Denver’s offense, which looked like a championship-caliber machine from the jump.

Westbrook scored 16 points in just the first half, and his explosive presence allowed the Nuggets to rotate their bench far more effectively than in Game 4, when all five starters played marathon minutes.

JOKIC: ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER TRIPLE-DOUBLE

Let’s talk Nikola Jokic — the silent killer of this Nuggets squad. The reigning MVP didn’t need to dominate the scoring chart to make his mark. Instead, he quietly registered his 21st career playoff triple-double, tallying 18 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists while orchestrating Denver’s offense like a maestro.

He wasn’t the loudest voice in the building — but he was the brain behind the blowout.

CLIPPERS COLLAPSE AGAIN IN THE FOURTH

Déjà vu, anyone? Much like Game 4, the Nuggets built a massive 22-point lead in the fourth quarter. And much like Game 4, the Clippers launched a furious comeback — slicing the gap to just nine points after a wild 17-4 run.

But this time, Denver wasn’t about to let history repeat itself.

Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon (who had 23 points) stepped up big, combining for an 11-0 run that slammed the door shut on LA’s hopes. Clippers coach Tyronn Lue had no choice but to wave the white flag and empty his bench.

Jamal Murray Drops 43 – A NIGHT OF HEROES AND HIGHLIGHTS

Christian Braun drained a deep 28-footer at the third-quarter buzzer, firing up the home crowd and setting the tone for the final frame.
Aaron Gordon, fresh off his Game 4 game-winning dunk, was electric again with 23 points and lockdown defense.
Ivica Zubac tried to carry the Clippers with a playoff career-high 27 points, but the supporting cast just didn’t deliver when it mattered most.

And just to add a bit of drama, Dillon Brooks fouled out late, and Jokic picked up a technical in a mid-court skirmish that gave the crowd even more to scream about.

CLIPPERS ON THE BRINK

For LA, this was their second heartbreaker of the series. They lost Game 1 by just two points in overtime. Now, they’re down 3-2 and must win Game 6 at home to force a do-or-die Game 7.

“We’ve been here before,” Kawhi Leonard said, trying to stay calm after a 20-point performance. “It’s not over.”

Maybe not. But the clock is ticking. And the Nuggets smell blood.

WHAT’S NEXT?

Game 6 will be played Thursday night at the Clippers’ brand-new Intuit Dome — a flashy arena that might be hosting its final playoff game of the season if LA doesn’t find a way to stop the Murray-Jokic avalanche.

And if Denver wins? They’ll punch their ticket to a massive showdown against the No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder in Round 2.