DENVER — For the Clippers, Game 5 against the Denver Nuggets meant being one more win away from advancing in the playoffs or one more loss away from going home.
But from the start, the Clippers walked a tightrope that had them teetering all game, falling behind from the very beginning, putting stress on their defense. They were unable to contain Jamal Murray in falling behind by 22 points in the fourth quarter and unable to muster enough energy in losing 131-115 on Tuesday night at Ball Arena.
“I don’t think (it’s) sense of urgency. I think they kicked our butt,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “They played well. Game 4, like I said, I didn’t think we came out with a sense of urgency. But tonight I thought we had the right intent and they just took it to us.”
With Murray cooking the Clippers for a series-high 43 points, they trail the best-of-seven series 3-2 and are on the brink of being eliminated in the first round for the third straight season.
“I thought the tough start was Jamal Murray,” Lue said. “I thought he came out being aggressive, which we knew he would. That’s why we started off with a blitz against him, just to try to slow him down. We knew in Game 5 he would come out aggressive. He made every shot.”
Win Game 6 on Thursday night at the Intuit Dome or the season is over for the Clippers. If they win, then the winner-take-all Game 7 is Saturday in Denver.
But history does not favor the Clippers. The team that wins Game 5 of a tied series has gone on to win the series 81.3% of the time.
Ivica Zubac was solid with a playoff career-high 27 points. Kawhi Leonard was one rebound shy of a triple-double with 20 points, a playoff career-high 11 assists and nine rebounds.
But the Clippers had no answer for Murray, who was efficient with his shooting, going 17-for-26 from the field and eight-for-14 from three-point range. He also had seven assists and five rebounds. The Nuggets also got a triple-double of 13 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds from Nikola Jokic.
“I’m just glad we got a win, man, to be honest with you,” Murray said. “Shots are going to miss, they are going to make. I’m still going to play my game. I’m still going to be aggressive. I’m going to shoot the shots that I shoot. But like I said, it was a team win.”
After Murray drilled a three-pointer and assisted Aaron Gordon on a three-pointer for a 17-point Nuggets lead, Clippers coach Tyronn Lue called a timeout with 2:35 left in the game and removed his starters.
“I just thought Jamal Murray was excellent tonight,” Lue said.
Lue had implored his group to get off to a better start, to not have to play catchup in this road game, to not get “bored with the process.”
But the Clippers struggled in the first quarter, putting themselves in a hole from the start. They fell behind 35-23 at the end of the first. They shot just 39.1% from the field and just 14.3% (one for seven) from three-point range.
“We’re trying to figure it out,” Zubac said about the Clippers’ slow starts. “They are more physical to start. I don’t think it’s a tactical thing, or strategies. It’s just we got to play harder.”
Russell Westbrook, the former Clipper, hurt his former team with his energy and effort.
Westbrook missed Game 4 because of left foot inflammation and was sharp in his return, scoring 11 of his 16 first-half points in the second quarter and finishing with 21.
And when Westbrook scored, he frequently glared at the Clippers’ bench.
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