Nuggets vs Clippers Game 5 Recap – Murray’s 43 Leads Denver’s 131-115 Win

(Nuggets vs Clippers ) On Tuesday, April 29, 2025, the Denver Nuggets hosted the Los Angeles Clippers at Ball Arena in Game 5 of their Western Conference first-round series​ It was a high-scoring affair: Denver’s Jamal Murray exploded for 43 points (going 17-for-26 FG, 8-of-14 from three) and the visiting Clippers couldn’t keep pace. With Russell Westbrook returning from a left-foot injury and adding 21 points, the Nuggets pulled away for a 131-115 victory​. The win put Denver up 3-2 in the series, one game away from advancing​ Ivica Zubac led L.A. with a playoff career-high 27 points, while Kawhi Leonard scored 20 and reserve Bogdan Bogdanović had 18 for the Clippers​

Key Highlights & Turning Points (Nuggets vs Clippers )

  • Early Denver lead: Denver jumped out to a big cushion, taking a 22-point lead in the early fourth quarter (they were up 99-83 after three quarters)​ Nikola Jokić helped extend that lead late in Q3 by dishing to Christian Braun for a 28-foot three-pointer, and Russell Westbrook nailed another trey in the closing seconds of Q3, making it 99-83 heading into the fourth​

  • Clippers rally: Facing a huge deficit, the Clippers mounted a furious comeback. LA went on a 17–4 run in the 4th quarter, getting the game within 116-107 and making it a one-possession game​ Kawhi Leonard and Bogdanović were key during this stretch.

  • Denver’s final push: With momentum shifting, Denver answered decisively. The Nuggets closed the game on an 11–0 run (Murray scoring 6 points and Aaron Gordon 5 in that run) to seal the win​ The Clippers’ rally fell short, and coach Tyronn Lue emptied the bench in response to the surge​

  • Historic Game 4 context: (For context, the Clippers had just won Game 4 by a 101-99 buzzer-beater, with Aaron Gordon hitting the first walk-off dunk in NBA playoff history. That thrilling game had tied the series 2-2 and set up this pivotal Game 5.)

Standout Player Performances

  • Jamal Murray (DEN): The star of the night, Murray “erupted for 43 points”​ He hit 8 of 14 three-pointers​ and added 5 rebounds and 7 assists. This explosive shooting effort overwhelmed L.A.’s defense.

  • Russell Westbrook (DEN): Returning from left-foot inflammation (he missed Game 4), Westbrook contributed 21 points​. He scored 16 points in just 12 first-half minutes, helping the Nuggets build the early lead​ Westbrook’s timely 3-pointer late in the 3rd quarter was part of Denver’s big fourth-quarter cushion​

  • Aaron Gordon (DEN): The versatile forward chipped in 23 points and 4 rebounds, attacking the rim in the first half and knocking down clutch free throws.

  • Nikola Jokić (DEN): The MVP center recorded his 21st career playoff triple-double with 18 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists​ Jokic’s playmaking and screens were crucial for Denver’s offense.

  • Christian Braun (DEN): Braun added 11 points with 12 rebounds, including the 28-foot 3-pointer that helped the Nuggets pull away late in Q3​

  • Ivica Zubac (LAC): The big man had a playoff career-high 27 points on 11-of-15 shooting​ (including many dunks and put-backs). He also grabbed 5 rebounds.

  • Kawhi Leonard (LAC): The Clippers’ leading veteran scored 20 points and collected 9 rebounds with 11 assists​ He kept L.A. in the game with tough mid-range buckets.

  • Bogdan Bogdanović (LAC): Coming off the bench, Bogdanović scored 18 points on 5-of-11 shooting (4-of-8 from three-point range) and had 5 assists

Notable Stats

  • Shooting efficiency: Denver shot a blazing 55.8% from the field and an astonishing 51.5% from 3-point range (17-of-33)​. By contrast, the Clippers shot 52.4% overall and 37.9% on threes​. Jamal Murray alone accounted for nearly half of Denver’s triples (8 makes)​

  • Free throws: The Nuggets knocked down 18 of 23 free throws (78.3%)​ while the Clippers were only 18-of-28 (64.3%)​, which partly explains Denver’s scoring edge.

  • Ball control and rebounds: Both teams totaled 38 rebounds each. Denver committed just 9 turnovers vs. 10 for L.A. Denver’s bench contributed 21 points compared to 23 from L.A.’s reserves, showing fairly balanced support.

  • Defensive contribution: Not shown on the scoreboard, but key defensive stops in the fourth were critical. Notably, in Game 4 LA had erased a 22-point Denver lead before losing on the buzzer, so this game’s defensive bounce-back was crucial. (Clippers had won Game 4 by stopping Denver at the end and getting Gordon’s dunk.)

  • Win probability swings: Denver’s win probability jumped when Westbrook and Braun hit those late Q3 threes, then dipped during the Clippers’ fourth-quarter run, and then rose again as Denver’s 11-0 run closed out the game. (GameFlow charts on ESPN depict these swings vividly

Injuries and Coaching Notes

  • Russell Westbrook returns: Westbrook missed Game 4 with “left foot inflammation”​ but came back in Game 5 and immediately impacted the game. His return allowed Denver interim coach David Adelman to rest role players, after last game using every starter for over 42 minutes​

  • Tyronn Lue’s adjustments: Clippers coach Ty Lue shuffled lineups during L.A.’s run and eventually emptied the bench late in the fourth​ but Denver’s late surge answered LA’s rally. No ejections or major controversies occurred, though the referee crew (Brent Barnaky, Josh Tiven, Karl Lane, Mitchell Ervin) had a busy night.

  • Bench usage: Denver’s bench output was similar to LA’s (23 for L.A., 21 for DEN). With Westbrook back, Denver coach Adelman could play bench options more, whereas in Game 4 he had to lean heavily on starters. On the Clippers’ side, Bogdanović’s scoring off the bench was crucial until late in the 4th.

  • No major new injuries: Aside from Westbrook’s known foot issue (now apparently resolved enough to play), there were no new injury concerns reported for either team in Game 5. Both rosters were essentially at full strength.

Playoff Impact and Outlook

Denver’s win gave the Nuggets a 3-2 series edge in this best-of-7 matchup​ They are now one victory away from advancing. Game 6 is scheduled for Thursday at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles​ A Nuggets win there would eliminate the Clippers and send Denver to the second round against the West’s top seed (the Oklahoma City Thunder)​ If the Clippers prevail in Game 6, they would force a decisive Game 7 back in Denver on Saturday.

For the Clippers, this loss means they must win Game 6 to stay alive. The Clippers were one stop away from tying Game 4, but in Game 5 Denver’s hot shooting and Murray’s breakout put L.A. in a hole they couldn’t climb out of. The stakes are now do-or-die for Los Angeles.

In summary, the April 29 game was a crucial momentum swing. Denver’s offensive fireworks and late-game composure allowed the Nuggets to dominate despite a late Clippers run. Murray’s 43-point outburst and Denver’s depth of contributions highlighted the winner. All eyes now turn to Game 6, where the Clippers will be desperate to force a Game 7, or Denver will advance to chase another championship run​

Sources: Associated Press game recap and ESPN box score

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