In one of the wildest endings in recent times, the Denver Nuggets dramatically evened the series against the Los Angeles Clippers. Aaron Gordon scored a sensational buzzer-beater dunk at the game’s last play. After the officials reviewed the footage, Gordon dunked the ball at 0.1 seconds.
As the Game heads to Denver, 81% of teams that win Game 5 advance to the next round. Therefore, Kawhi Leonard and James Harden hope to score a victory to close out the series in LA.
But the Nuggets have Nikola Jokić on their team, and he is looking to win his second NBA title. He averages 28.5 points, 13.5 rebounds, and 10.8 assists in this playoff series. The games promise to be entertaining, with both teams battling it out.
Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Clippers Box Score
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clippers | 23 | 36 | 24 | 32 | 115 |
| Nuggets | 35 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 131 |
Clippers’ Player Stats
| Player | MIN | PTS | REB | AST | FG | 3PT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norman Powell | 31:47 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 5/12 | 1/5 |
| Kawhi Leonard | 37:21 | 20 | 9 | 11 | 8/15 | 1/4 |
| Ivica Zubac | 36:50 | 27 | 5 | 1 | 11/15 | 0/0 |
| Kris Dunn | 25:04 | 15 | 0 | 2 | 6/7 | 3/4 |
| James Harden | 35:07 | 11 | 8 | 5 | 3/9 | 0/2 |
| Ben Simmons | 04:42 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0/1 | 0/0 |
| Nicolas Batum | 21:21 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 0/2 | 0/2 |
| Derrick Jones Jr. | 14:05 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 3/6 | 1/3 |
| Bogdan Bogdanović | 23:23 | 18 | 3 | 5 | 5/11 | 4/8 |
| Kobe Brown | 02:35 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1/1 | 1/1 |
| Cam Christie | 02:35 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0/0 | 0/0 |
| Drew Eubanks | 02:35 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0/0 | 0/0 |
| Jordan Miller | 02:35 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1/3 | 0/0 |
| Patty Mills | DNP | |||||
| Amir Coffey | DNP |
Nuggets’ Player Stats
| Player | MIN | PTS | REB | AST | FG | 3PT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Porter Jr. | 37:14 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 5/10 | 3/5 |
| Aaron Gordan | 36:38 | 23 | 4 | 2 | 7/11 | 1/2 |
| Nikola Jokić | 36:34 | 13 | 10 | 12 | 4/13 | 1/4 |
| Christian Braun | 36:34 | 11 | 12 | 3 | 5/8 | 1/2 |
| Jamal Murray | 40:02 | 43 | 5 | 7 | 17/26 | 8/14 |
| Russell Westbrook | 25:19 | 21 | 1 | 1 | 8/15 | 3/6 |
| Peyton Watson | 08:29 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1/2 | 0/0 |
| DeAndre Jordan | 09:30 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0/0 | 0/0 |
| Jalen Pickett | 01:56 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0/0 | 0/0 |
| Julian Strawther | 01:56 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0/0 | 0/0 |
| Hunter Tyson | 01:56 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1/1 | 0/0 |
| Zeke Nnaji | 01:56 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0/0 | 0/0 |
| Vlatko Čančar | 01:56 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0/0 | 0/0 |
| DaRon Holmes II | DNP | |||||
| Dario Šarić | DNP |
Clippers vs. Nuggets: Game Recap
The game started quickly, with Jamal Murray draining buckets from the get-go, similar to Game 3. In the first quarter, he had a monster dunk and a fancy dribble to score buckets. The Nuggets went on an 11-2 run in the first quarter to extend the lead to 26-19.
At one point, Murray had 10 points, 4/6 FGs, and 2/2 from beyond the arc. Gordon started well in the game, using a stop-dribble shot to get the Nuggets’ score going. Both teams had contested physically in the first quarter, with the Clippers fighting hard to get back in the game.
In the meantime, Russell Westbrook got an and-one at 1:36 after he went to the lane with a driving layup. He got his name on the board after missing two three-pointers in the game. Jokić had a sensational alley-oop pass to Peyton Watson, who dunked it in. In the end, the first quarter ended with a 35-23 lead for the Nuggets.
Joker ➡️ Watson for the alley-oop 🔥
(via @nuggets)pic.twitter.com/jUb2P9PsXF
— ESPN BET (@ESPNBET) April 30, 2025
After missing two three-pointers in the first quarter, he made two three-pointers consecutively, scoring 13 points. At minute 8:17, Leonard came on to complete his second dunk after passing Gordon to drive through the lane.
Westbrook then had an and-one and had 11 points in the second quarter alone. Likewise, Nicolas Batum got his sixth block in the series as he swatted away Jokić’s floater at 6:38. In one highlight play, Westbrook put in a laser-like pass to Michael Porter Jr., who scored an easy two-pointer.
In the meantime, Kris Dunn scored 3/4 three-pointers to bring the score closer to 56-50, only for Jokić to drain three free throws after getting fouled from the three-point line. With the Clippers’ defense struggling in this game, Leonard got to his spot and scored an easy mid-range shot.
At the end of the half, the Nuggets led the game 67-59, and Murray finished the half with 19 points. As usual, Jokić had eight assists in the first half.
MURRAY’S UP TO 27 POINTS AFTER HIS 5TH THREE 🏹
Denver’s coming out of the break swinging on TNT! pic.twitter.com/8QrGREZMnA
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) April 30, 2025
The Nuggets started the third quarter just like they started the first quarter. They started strong as Murray had a step-back jump shot, and Porter scored a running three-pointer to extend the lead to 72-59. Clippers coach Tyronn Lue called in a quick timeout to stop the momentum.
At 9:30, Murray gave a no-look pass to Christian Braun, who scored an easy layup. He also came up with a strong eight points in the third quarter with 8:23 to play, only missing three shots until now.
At 6:56, Murray lobbed in a pass to the rim, and in came Gordon, soaring like an eagle to dunk it home in another highlight play. With the Denver Nuggets’ Average Joes enthralling the fans with a dance performance in the timeout, the Clippers had their work cut out.
Jamal Murray throws it up to Aaron Gordon! 🔨
(via @nuggets)pic.twitter.com/N2HhA2MZAe
— Dime (@DimeUPROXX) April 30, 2025
In the meantime, Harden’s struggles continued with just eight points until 2:44 in the third quarter. He missed an open three-pointer after some solid ball movement from the Clippers. The Nuggets struggled with spacing in the third quarter, with the Clippers defending the paint well.
Meanwhile, Westbrook and Bogdan Bogdanović had a minor argument as they received technicals under their names. The Clippers stayed in the game until 1:17, scoring 93-82. But that score went up with a sensational wide-open three-pointer from Westbrook, who took his total to 19 in 17 minutes.
At the end of the third quarter, Braun had a big three-pointer at 1.8 seconds left in the third quarter. The Nuggets took a 99-83 lead to end the third quarter.
In one moment in the fourth quarter, though, Murray landed on Gordon’s ankle as Murray walked in pain. But he shook it off after driving to the lane with an emphatic dunk at 8:58.
JAMAL MURRAY THROWS IT DOWN AND ITS LOUD IN DENVER🤯🔥 pic.twitter.com/9bAU27WGsv
— The Morning After (@Bookit_TMA) April 30, 2025
The player was on fire with 35 points, shooting at 66.7% from the field until then. He had his 19th 30-point playoff game as he went on a scoring spree.
Harden’s struggles continued on the floor with four turnovers and scoring just nine points. But Leonard stepped on the gas just a little with a three-pointer from deep, and Zubac scored an easy two under the basket. They had a 17-4 run to bring the scores down to 116-107 after the Nuggets had a 22-point lead. Slowly and steadily, the Clippers got back in the game.
Until then, Jokić had just two points in the quarter. But then Murray came back, and at 3:17, he had a sensational fadeaway jumper after rounding off two Clippers players. They returned with an 11-0 run on their own in 90 seconds.
JAMAL MURRAY 40-PIECE 🔥
16-25 FGM | 7 3PM pic.twitter.com/lRC88kwfaf
— NBA (@NBA) April 30, 2025
The Nuggets took home the victory, as Murray scored 43 points, his highest-scoring playoff game since the bubble. Jokic finished with his customary triple-double: 13 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists, and the game ended with a 131-115 victory.
The penultimate Game 6 will be in Los Angeles, as the Clippers look to stay in the playoffs with a win-or-go-home situation.
