Jamal Murray’s breakout match in opposition to LA Clippers places Denver Nuggets inside a sport of the second spherical of NBA playoffs.
Jamal Murray scored 24 of his game-high 43 factors within the second half, and the hosts Denver Nuggets pushed the Los Angeles Clippers to the brink of elimination with a 131-115 win in Recreation 5 of their Western Convention first-round sequence.
Denver have gained the previous two video games to take a 3-2 lead within the first-round matchup. Recreation 6 is on Thursday evening in Los Angeles.
Murray scored 11 factors in a momentum-turning third quarter on Tuesday evening and added 13 extra within the fourth, the final on a 3-pointer with 2 minutes 13 seconds left that put the Nuggets up by 20.
Nikola Jokic had 13 factors, 12 assists and 10 rebounds – his third triple-double of the sequence – for the Nuggets, who by no means trailed. They led by 22 within the fourth quarter for the second straight sport, however in contrast to Saturday, they didn’t give away your complete lead.
The Clippers used a 17-4 run to get inside 116-107 with 4:01 left, however Aaron Gordon hit a lay-up, Murray made a free throw after a transition foul after which a fallaway jumper, and Gordon drained a 3-pointer to seal it.
Russell Westbrook, who missed Recreation 4 with a foot damage, scored 21 factors off the Denver bench. Gordon had 23 factors, Michael Porter Jr contributed 14 factors, and Christian Braun had 11 factors and 12 rebounds.
The Nuggets shot 17-for-33 (51.5 %) from 3-point vary.
Los Angeles’ James Harden was held to 11 factors on 3-for-9 taking pictures, however Kawhi Leonard had 20 factors, 11 assists and 9 rebounds, and Ivica Zubac added 27 factors.
Porter opened the fourth quarter with a 3-pointer and a three-point play, Murray drained one from deep and fed Westbrook for a 12-footer to make it 110-88 earlier than Los Angeles closed inside 9.
Murray and Porter hit 3-pointers to immediate a 10-2 run firstly of the third quarter, and the Nuggets went forward 84-67 halfway by means of the interval.
The Clippers scored seven factors in 43 seconds to get inside 88-80, however Braun’s 3-pointer made it 99-83 heading into the fourth.
Denver gained Recreation 4 101-99 at Los Angeles on Sunday when Gordon sensationally dunked the ball on the buzzer.
Denver’s Jamal Murray (#27) was 17-of-26 from the sector, together with 8-14 on 3-pointers, en path to 43 factors in opposition to the LA Clippers in Recreation 5 (Matthew Stockman/Getty Photos by way of AFP)
Boston Celtics, Indiana Pacers clinch sequence
The Indiana Pacers and the Boston Celtics turned the most recent groups to guide their locations within the second spherical of the NBA playoffs on Tuesday because the Detroit Pistons thwarted the New York Knicks to maintain their postseason hopes alive.
In Indianapolis, the Pacers battled again from a 20-point deficit after which rallied once more in time beyond regulation to defeat the Milwaukee Bucks 119-118 and seal a 4-1 victory of their NBA Jap Convention duel.
The reigning NBA champions Celtics had a neater time of it as they overpowered the Orlando Magic with a series-clinching 120-89 victory at Boston’s TD Backyard.
The Knicks, main their sequence 3-1, missed the possibility to affix Boston and Indiana within the second spherical after shedding 106-103 to Detroit at Madison Sq. Backyard.
The Pacers superior to an Jap Convention semifinal sequence with high seeds Cleveland after pulling off a exceptional time beyond regulation Houdini act.
The Pacers trailed 118-111 with 40 seconds remaining however launched an 8-0 run that culminated with Tyrese Haliburton’s driving layup to clinch victory with 1.3 seconds left on the clock.
A late blunder by Milwaukee’s Gary Trent Jr, who fumbled a wide-open move to show over possession and arrange Haliburton’s successful layup, proved pivotal.
“Each groups actually left each single ounce of every little thing they’d on the market, together with timeouts – no person had something left,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle stated.
“However you understand, fortune favours the daring. And our guys have been daring within the final three quarters, and we’re very grateful and grateful to be transferring on.”
Tyrese Haliburton (#0) of the Indiana Pacers shoots the game-winning shot in opposition to Giannis Antetokounmpo (#34) of the Milwaukee Bucks in Recreation 5 of their first-round Jap Convention playoff sequence at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, US on April 29, 2025 (Ron Hoskins/Getty Photos by way of AFP)
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