By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Jamal Murray dropped 43 points, placing the Denver Nuggets in a commanding position on Tuesday. His side never trailed and went up to a 22-point lead early in the fourth quarter en route to a win, 131-115, against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Prevailing in Ball Arena shaped a 3-2 lead in the opening round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs presented by Google.
In Game 5 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals, Nikola Jokic posted a triple-double behind 13 points, 12 assists, and ten rebounds. Logging 36 minutes, the Serbian superstar added two blocks and one assist but was held to 4/13 in the field.
“We are going to LA to get another one. That’s our mindset,” the Serbian superstar said in a postgame media session, immediately moving focus to Game 6 in Intuit Dome and an opportunity to finish a best-of-seven series on Thursday.
“Nobody wants to lose, especially on their home court. We know they’re going to put up a fight,” added Jokic, “We are prepared, ready.”
Playing two minutes in the fourth quarter, Slovenian Vlatko Cancar did not get on the board. Croatian teammate Dario Saric stayed on the bench for the team coached by David Adelman.
On the wrong end of a blowout, Croatian Ivica Zubac went for 27 points behind 11/15 field goals, five rebounds, two blocks, and one assist.
Serbian Bogdan Bogdanovic piled up 18 points with 5/11 field goals, including four three-pointers, alongside five rebounds and three assists.
French Nicolas Batum had six rebounds, two blocks, and two assists.