Clippers on the Brink After Game 5 Loss to Nuggets
The Los Angeles Clippers find themselves in must-win territory after falling 131–115 to the Denver Nuggets in Game 5 of their opening-round NBA playoff series. The defending champion Nuggets now hold a 3–2 lead, with the series returning to the newly opened Intuit Dome for a pivotal Game 6.
By Earl Heath | Contributing Sports Writer
The Los Angeles Clippers find themselves in must-win territory after falling 131–115 to the Denver Nuggets in Game 5 of their opening-round NBA playoff series. The defending champion Nuggets now hold a 3–2 lead, with the series returning to the newly opened Intuit Dome for a pivotal Game 6.
Statistically, the odds aren’t in the Clippers’ favor. According to TNT, teams that win Game 5 of a best-of-seven series after a 2–2 tie go on to win the series 81% of the time (191–44).
Murray Heats Up, Clips Cool Off
Denver guard Jamal Murray exploded for 43 points in Game 5, shooting 17-of-26 from the field and a blistering 8-of-14 from beyond the arc. His performance handed the Clippers their first back-to-back losses since early March and propelled the Nuggets one win away from a Round 2 matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
“Tonight, he played great,” said Kawhi Leonard. “He came out, made shots, got hot, found his teammates, and we pretty much couldn’t stop him. He played amazing.”
The bright spot for L.A. was Russell Westbrook, who returned from a foot injury to score 21 points, including 16 in just 12 first-half minutes. Despite the spark, the Clippers trailed wire-to-wire.
Historic Buzzer-Beater Still Lingers
Game 4 at Crypto.com Arena was equally painful for Clippers fans. Despite a comeback to tie the game, Aaron Gordon’s buzzer-beating dunk sealed a 101–99 Denver win—the first walk-off dunk in NBA playoff history.
Ivica Zubac had a playoff career-high 27 points in that game, while Leonard added 20 and Bogdan Bogdanovic chipped in 18. The Clippers’ top scorers have carried the load, but turnovers remain a lingering issue for the squad.
Silver Lining: Slowing Jokic
One reason for hope? The Clippers may have cracked the code on reigning MVP Nikola Jokic. The Nuggets’ star center struggled in Game 5, finishing with just 13 points on 4-of-13 shooting—his lowest scoring average in a playoff series since Denver’s 2021 sweep by Phoenix.
L.A. head coach Tyronn Lue credited a defensive adjustment for the success.
“We blitzed a little bit more,” Lue said postgame. “It helped Zubac stay more connected and let us push Jokic away from the post.”
Still, the Nuggets won by 16 points—despite Jokic’s quiet night.
“Holding Joker to 13 points and losing the game,” Lue said with a faint smile, “is tough.”
Do-or-Die at the Intuit Dome
Game 6 will be a test of resilience. With the season on the line, the Clippers will need everything—from lockdown defense to clutch shooting—to extend the series to seven games.
Tip-off is set for later this week at the Intuit Dome, and fans are hoping for one more fight from a team that’s come too far to bow out quietly.
