NBA playoffs: Jamal Murray, Russell Westbrook Spark Nuggets Passe Clippers to claim the 3-2 series

Denver – Nikola Jokić is able to do everything.

For Denver Nuggets, it's much better if he doesn't have to do so. He did not have on Tuesday evening.

Stimulated by the 43 points of Jamal Murray and eight 3 points and a cripple passage on the bench of Russell Westbrook, the Nuggets ran to A victory of 131-115 Match 5 Above the Los Angeles mowers. The victory obtained a 3-2 lead for the Nuggets, which can close the series of the first round Thursday.

Tuesday's victory marked a return to the playoffs for Murray, who played a decisive role in Denver's race at the NBA 2023 championship. Coupled by the injury in the last season, Murray failed to match his previous form, and the Nuggets failed to get out of the second round.

On Tuesday, Murray looked much more like her self of 2023. Murray scored 19 points in first half the nuggets fully controlled on the way to an advance of 67-59. He then opened the third trimester with a back jumper to maintain the momentum.

His fifth 3-point pointer opened the advance of the Nuggets at 80-63 at the beginning of the third quarter.

When the Clippers threatened a race, Murray struck his sixth 3 to extend the two-digit Denver's advance to 91-80. The mowers have never recovered.

“Some of the blows he made were absolutely ridiculous,” said Nuggets coach David Adelman. “I said it before the match, it comes with him. You know that these are, these great moments, these situations. He was born for this special night for Jamal.”

Murray added seven assists and five rebounds and pulled 17 out of 26 on the field and 8 out of 14 at a distance of 3 points.

Can Murray maintain its shape now that it is healthy?

The match was the best of Murray playoffs and his first outing of more than 40 years since he scored 55 in a victory against the Portland Trail Blazers on February 12. Murray fought on the regular season section and missed six consecutive games with an injury to the hamstrings before returning to the last two Denver games.

These absences coincided with a sequence of four consecutive defeats which preceded The amazing rejection of head coach Michael Malone. Murray is now played in seven consecutive games, including four eliminatory games in which he has not scored more than 23 points.

Jamal Murray led the Nuggets to a Match 5 victory and a 3-2 series advance against the Clippers. (Photo of Matthew Stockman / Getty Images)

(Matthew Stockman via Getty Images)

“Rhythm is the pace, whether the playoffs or the regular season,” said Adelman about Murray. “You have to play. It's not like we practice a lot. Because you can't do anything. It is the pace at stake that it finds.

“They are also the clippers. They are doing a good job. We have thought of a few things on which he completely capitalized. Not to mention the incredible individual pieces he did tonight.”

Murray preferred to minimize his injury, declaring the post-match “which was like four weeks ago”.

He also minimized his big night while creating victory for a team effort.

“It was a big team victory,” said Murray. “The guys created good screens. The guys ran the ground. The guys were disinterested and passed the ball. Everyone was in a very good pace tonight. It was a great reason why we got the victory.”

He admitted that he was having fun on Tuesday evening and “played for free”.

“That's all,” said Murray. “It is excitement. It is nervousness. Everything comes into play, and that's what makes it fun. This is what makes this the most watched moment in basketball of the year and the most fun as a player to play.

“When I have fun and I don't think about it, we get games like this one – not just me, but everyone.”

Murray was not the only nugget hero

Westbrook was questionable until the pre-match warming with a foot injury put him away in match 4. It was eliminated just before TIP, which turned out to be good news for the Nuggets.

Westbrook came out of the bench with 4:42 to do at the first quarter and the Nuggets holding an advance of 25-17. He returned to the bench with 3:49 to do in half for an ovation of the crowd of Denver. Westbrook scored 16 points in his 13-minute stay to help keep the Nuggets in control with an advance of 58-50.

Westbrook hit 3 points on consecutive possessions in the second quarter to extend Denver's advance to 45-32.

A lay-up and 1 and made free throws crowned the Westbrook score race at 16 points. It also highlighted his celebration of rock-the-baby.

Westbrook finished the match with 21 points, pulling 8 out of 15 on the field and 3 out of 6. Bad RussGood Russ showed up Tuesday evening.

Westbrook's energy was fully exposed throughout the game while it was chirping with Clippers players and interacted with fans.

“It's important, guy,” said Westbrook about his energy. “This is a large part of the game that the average eye may not see or the box score may not show. But I think it is important that it is contagious and it is something that can make the victory of your team.

“I think it's something that I am personally proud of, to be ready to bring this for my team every night.”

James Harden fades

While Murray and Westbrook punctuated the nuggets in the rear area, James Harden fought for the Clippers.

Harden scored three goals on the field on only nine attempts and finished with 11 points, eight rebounds and five assists. He returned the ball to a top of the team four times. It was not the type of effort that mowers needed their 11 times All-Star.

Adelman attributed to Christian Braun for having operated on Harden a night when Braun was limited in attack (11 points).

“There are many requests underway for Christian with James Harden,” said Adelman. “It was a defensive match of the team tonight with James. But CB is the guy to the point. It is the guy who joins with him.

“I have always said that, CB is never afraid of the moment. He can play very well. He can play ok. But there is nothing about this guy who is afraid of this moment.”

Ivaca Zubac took over with a summit of 27 points for the Clippers and helped limit Jokić to 13 points out of 4 shots. Kawhi Leonard added 20 points and 11 assists. It was not enough to follow the pace of a nugget attack running on all cylinders.

Can Nuggets close it this time?

The Nuggets were in a similar position last season against the Minnesota Timberwolves. They won match 5 against the Timberwolves and faced a chance to close the series in match 6.

But they did not do the job. The Timberwolves exploded the Nuggets in match 6, then set up a rally in the second half in match 7 to secure the series and darken the reigning champion nuggets in the second round.

Adelman did not want to talk about the prospect of what a victory for match 5 would mean for the series at his pre-match press conference.

“We won this match last year,” said Adelman. “Everyone was so excited by the Swing match. And then we were absolutely blown away in match 6 and lost a really difficult match 7 in Minnesota.

“If you start to think in advance – hey, that's how the story will end – if you write a conclusion, I think you are in trouble.”

Unlike the latest playoffs, match 6 will be on the road to the Nuggets as they seek to close the series in Los Angeles.

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