The Denver Nuggets recorded a 131-115 home win against the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 5 to go up 3-2 in their first-round best-of-seven series, and Jamal Murray played huge in the victory.
The one-time NBA champion led all scorers with 43 points, five rebounds, seven assists, three steals, and eight three-pointers on 17-for-26 shooting from the field. Aaron Gordon, Russell Westbrook, Michael Porter Jr., Nikola Jokic, and Christian Braun added 23, 21, 14, 13, and 11 points.
Murray recorded his sixth 40-point playoff game, the most in Denver Nuggets history. According to Polymarket Hoops, Murray’s 43 points are the most in an NBA playoff game with only one free throw attempt in history.
The Denver Nuggets needed this from Murray, who only had 13 points on a paltry 5-for-17 shooting from the field in Game 4. Overall, Murray averages 24.6 points on a 48.4 field goal percentage and 57.4 percent effective field goal percentage.
Denver Nuggets News: David Adelman lauds Jamal Murray for 43-point explosion in Game 5
Denver Nuggets interim head coach David Adelman is not surprised to see this from Jamal Murray since he has seen him rise to the occasion many times.
“These big moments, these situations. He was born for this,” Adelman said via ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne. “You can kind of tell the way the ball comes off his hand on certain nights. I thought he had a great lift on his jump shot. …When it’s flowing like that, it’s the guy that’s won us so many playoff games in the past.”
“When he’s complimentary with Nikola, it’s great,” he added. “But it sure is nice to have these nights where it’s his show. We needed it tonight in a big game.”
