Nuggets stay alive, defeat Clippers 111-105 in Game 5

Down 3-1 to the Los Angeles Clippers, the Denver Nuggets were on the brink of elimination for the fourth time in the 2020 NBA Playoffs.

Strangely, the Denver Nuggets came out flat in Game 5 while trying to stave off elimination, missing their first five shots. However, an engaged Jamal Murray got the Nuggets on the board with a step back 3-pointer with 9:21 on the clock.

With 7:01 remaining, Los Angeles’ Kawhi Leonard put Denver’s defense in the spin cycle and got an easy dunk, giving the Clippers a 15-7 lead before the Nuggets took their first timeout.

Out of that timeout though, Denver went on a 7-0 run, bringing themselves within one (15-14) and forcing the Clippers to take a timeout with 5:03 remaining. The Nuggets would keep it close the remainder of the quarter and entered the second period down five (28-23).

LA opened the second quarter on a 14-4 run, pushing their lead to 15 points (42-27) before Denver took another timeout with 7:39 remaining in the half. The Nuggets responded with an 11-6 run though, cutting the lead to 10 (48-38) with 4:09 left in the quarter.

Following a scuffle between Clippers gritty forward Marcus Morris and Denver’s elder statesman Paul Millsap, the Nuggets finished the quarter on a 4-0 run and entered the halftime break down 12 (56-44).

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Murray led all scorers with 15 points at the half (although he shot 5-15 from the field) and Nikola Jokic added 9 points and five boards. Los Angeles on the other hand, led by Leonard’s 14 points, had three players score in double-figures through two quarters.

Both teams came out of the break with good energy, but the Clippers continued to pile it on as a contested stepback jumper by Leonard gave his team a 14-point lead (67-53) with 7:03 remaining in the third.

Denver’s continued resilience allowed them to counter with an 8-2 run, cutting LA’s lead to single digits (69-61) before the Clippers took a timeout with 4:43 remaining. A 6-0 run by Millsap (14 points in the period) to end the quarter brought the Nuggets within seven points (80-73) entering the fourth.

A fast-break layup, a 27-foot three-pointer and an alley-oop slam were part of a 7-2 run that Denver began the fourth quarter on, cutting the LA’s lead to just a single possession (82-80) with 9:43 to play.

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Feeling the momentum, the Nuggets caught fire, going on an 11-0 run and taking their first lead of the night (94-88) with 5:48 remaining in the game. Following Gary Harris’ sixth personal foul, two Leonard free-throws brought the Clippers within two (102-100) with 1:58 remaining.

Michael Porter Jr., who was relatively quiet through the first three quarters knocked down a dagger 3-pointer with 1:11 left in the game, pushing Denver’s lead to five (105-100). As Los Angeles played the foul game, the Nuggets converted six more free-throws and escaped with 111-105 victory.

Denver had five players score in double-figures, as Murray and Jokic once again led the way — this time with a combined 48 points. Millsap totaled 17 points and six rebounds, and Monte Morris added 12 points off the Nuggets’ bench.

Denver also overcame a 36-point performance from Leonard, and 26 points from Paul George.

With their backs against the wall, the Nuggets once again overcome the odds. Denver will look to carry the momentum into Game 6, which is set for Sunday, Sept. 13 at 1 p.m. (EST).