For the Clippers, Sport 5 towards the Denver Nuggets meant being yet another win away from advancing within the playoffs or yet another loss away from going residence.
However from the beginning, the Clippers walked a tightrope that had them teetering all recreation, falling behind from the very starting, placing stress on their protection. They had been unable to include Jamal Murray in falling behind by 22 factors within the fourth quarter and unable to muster sufficient vitality in shedding 131-115 on Tuesday evening at Ball Area.
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With Murray cooking the Clippers for a series-high 43 factors, they path the best-of-seven sequence 3-2 and are getting ready to being eradicated within the first spherical for the third straight season.
Now it is win Sport 6 on Thursday evening on the Intuit Dome or the season is over for the Clippers. In the event that they win, then the winner-take-all Sport 7 is Saturday in Denver.
However historical past doesn’t favor the Clippers. The workforce that wins Sport 5 of a tied sequence has gone on to win the sequence 81.3% of the time.
Learn extra: Kawhi Leonard is not shocked Clippers and Nuggets are locked in playoff showdown
Ivica Zubac was strong with a playoff career-high 27 factors. Kawhi Leonard was one rebound shy of a triple-double with 20 factors, a playoff career-high 11 assists and 9 rebounds.
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However the Clippers had no reply for Murray, who was environment friendly along with his capturing, going 17 for 26 from the sphere and eight for 14 from three-point vary. He additionally had seven assists and 5 rebounds.
After Murray drilled a three-pointer and assisted Aaron Gordon on a three-pointer for a 17-point Nuggets lead, Clippers coach Tyronn Lue referred to as a timeout with 2:35 left within the recreation and eliminated his starters.
Lue had implored his group to get off to a greater begin, to not must play catchup on this highway recreation, to not get “tired of the method.”
However the Clippers struggled within the first quarter, placing themselves in a gap from the beginning. They fell behind 35-23 on the finish of the primary. They shot simply 39.1% from the sphere and simply 14.3% (one for seven) from three-point vary.
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When the Nuggets’ lead grew to 52-38 within the second quarter, Russell Westbrook, the previous Clipper, was behind all of it.
Jamal Murray works the ball to the basket towards Clippers guard Kris Dunn within the first half. (David Zalubowski / Related Press)
Westbrook missed Sport 4 due to left foot irritation and was sharp in his return, scoring 11 of his 16 first-half factors within the second quarter and ending with 21.
And when Westbrook scored, he continuously glared on the Clippers’ bench.
The Clippers lower their deficit to eight on the finish of the primary half however had been sluggish to begin the third quarter, placing them in a bind once more.
Murray scored and Michael Porter Jr. drilled a three-pointer for a 72-59 Nuggets lead, forcing Lue to name a timeout simply 1 minute 7 seconds into the third.
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His workforce went down 84-67, then bought to inside eight factors, however Christian Braun hit a three-pointer with 1.8 seconds left to place the Clippers in a 99-83 gap getting into the fourth quarter.
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This story initially appeared in Los Angeles Instances.
