Nuggets vs. Clippers: Denver Seizes 3-2 Lead in First-Round Playoff Thriller

Denver, CO. (WE) — The Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers are locked in one of the most entertaining and unpredictable matchups of the 2025 NBA Playoffs. As the series heads into a critical Game 6 on Thursday night in Los Angeles, the Nuggets lead 3-2 after a commanding 131-115 win at Ball Arena in Game 5.

Through five games, the series has delivered everything fans hoped for — buzzer-beaters, blowouts, comeback attempts, and unexpected heroics. Each game has taken on a life of its own, and now the pressure is on the Clippers to keep their season alive in front of their home fans at Crypto.com Arena.

A Series Defined by Swings

Game 1 was an overtime classic. Nikola Jokić, the Nuggets’ three-time MVP, did what he always does — control the tempo, score when necessary, and distribute with surgical precision. Denver edged the Clippers 112-110 in a thrilling finish.

Game 2 saw Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers respond in kind. Leonard poured in clutch buckets late as Los Angeles squeaked out a 105-102 win to tie the series before heading home.

Game 3 was the most lopsided contest yet. The Clippers blew the Nuggets out 117-83 in Los Angeles behind strong performances from James Harden and Ivica Zubac, taking a 2-1 series lead.

Game 4 instantly joined the list of all-time playoff finishes. With Denver clinging to playoff life after blowing a 22-point lead, it was Aaron Gordon‘s buzzer-beating putback dunk that stole the game and sent the series back to Denver tied at 2-2.

Game 5: Murray Ignites Denver

In Game 5, Jamal Murray took center stage with a blistering 43-point performance — his most electric showing since the 2020 NBA Bubble. Murray dazzled fans with his shot-making, footwork, and calm under pressure.

Jokić, surprisingly quiet by his standards, finished with just 13 points — good for fifth on the team in scoring. But his presence remained vital, drawing defenders and creating opportunities for others. Russell Westbrook came off the bench and lit a fire early with 16 points in just nine minutes, helping Denver survive during Jokić’s early rest.

Los Angeles struggled to contain Denver’s role players, including Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Christian Braun, who combined for 25 points and hit key perimeter shots.

The Clippers were led by Leonard’s 20 points, but it wasn’t enough. L.A.’s defensive schemes, including a zone switch in the second half, couldn’t cool down the Nuggets’ hot shooting.

Denver Navigates Turmoil

This postseason marks Denver’s seventh consecutive playoff appearance, and they’ve advanced past the first round in five of the past six seasons. Yet, their 2024-25 campaign has been anything but smooth.

Earlier this month, the franchise made headlines when they fired championship-winning head coach Michael Malone just three games before the end of the regular season. Former assistant David Adelman stepped in as interim head coach, and he has leaned heavily on Jokić and Murray to stabilize the ship.

Meanwhile, former GM Calvin Booth was also dismissed as part of a front-office reshuffle. The turbulence could have derailed the team, but instead, the Nuggets rallied to finish with a 50-32 record — the same as the Clippers — and secured the No. 4 seed thanks to a tiebreaker.

Clippers’ Rollercoaster Season

For the Los Angeles Clippers, this series represents both an opportunity and a final stand for a core group of stars that has battled injuries and disappointment in recent years.

Post-All-Star break, the Clippers found rhythm, going 19-9, the sixth-best record in the league. Leonard’s return to form — after playing just 37 games this season — has been central to their resurgence. His 33-point, 47-minute effort in an overtime win over the Golden State Warriors to clinch the playoff berth showed just how vital he remains.

Harden has embraced a hybrid facilitator role, while role players like Norman Powell, Kris Dunn, and Zubac have chipped in with valuable contributions.

Still, L.A.’s playoff history is a specter that looms large. Since acquiring Leonard and Paul George, the Clippers have advanced past the second round only once — during the 2021 postseason.

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Tempers Flare, Stakes Rise

Game 4 wasn’t just memorable for its dramatic finish — it also featured plenty of physicality and confrontation. A heated exchange between Harden and Braun before halftime led to technical fouls being handed to six players: Harden, Gordon, Braun, Jokić, Powell, and Dunn.

Playoff intensity is a given, but this series has reached another level. The Clippers are visibly frustrated with the officiating and physical play. Meanwhile, Denver continues to preach poise and team-first basketball under Adelman’s stewardship.

Final Box Score Highlights – Game 5

Los Angeles Clippers:

• Ivica Zubac – 27 PTS, 5 REB, 2 BLK (11-15 FG)
• Kawhi Leonard – 20 PTS, 11 AST, 9 REB
• Kris Dunn – 15 PTS, 2 STL (6-7 FG, 3-4 3PT)
• Norman Powell – 12 PTS, 3 AST
• Bogdan Bogdanović – 18 PTS, 5 AST, 4-8 3PT
• James Harden – 11 PTS, 8 REB, 5 AST
• Derrick Jones Jr. – 7 PTS
• Others Combined – 5 PTS

Denver Nuggets:

• Bench Combined – 6 PTS
• Jamal Murray – 43 PTS, 7 AST, 8-14 3PT (17-26 FG)
• Aaron Gordon – 23 PTS, 4 REB (7-11 FG, 8-9 FT)
• Russell Westbrook – 21 PTS, 3 REB, 4 TO
• Michael Porter Jr. – 14 PTS, 2 REB
• Nikola Jokić – 13 PTS, 12 AST, 10 REB (Triple-double)
• Christian Braun – 11 PTS, 12 REB

What’s Next: Game 6 Outlook

Game 6 will take place on Thursday, May 1, in Los Angeles. Tip-off time and broadcast network are still to be determined.

According to DraftKings, the Clippers are 7-point favorites, with an over/under line set at 213.5 points. Series odds have shifted back in Denver’s favor: Nuggets -200, Clippers +165.

Los Angeles will need more from Leonard and Harden, but also from its bench, which was outplayed significantly in Game 5. Can Leonard summon another all-time Game 6 performance like his 45-point outburst against the Dallas Mavericks in 2021? If not, Denver may punch their ticket to a second-round showdown with the surging Oklahoma City Thunder.

Series Recap: Nuggets vs. Clippers Results

• Game 1: Nuggets 112, Clippers 110
• Game 2: Clippers 105, Nuggets 102
• Game 3: Clippers 117, Nuggets 83
• Game 4: Nuggets 101, Clippers 99
• Game 5: Nuggets 131, Clippers 115
• Game 6: Thursday, May 1 | Nuggets at Clippers | Time/TV TBD
• Game 7: Saturday, May 3 | Clippers at Nuggets | Time/TV TBD (if necessary)

Final Thoughts

The Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers have delivered one of the most captivating first-round series in recent memory. From Jokić’s brilliance to Murray’s resurgence, from Leonard’s resilience to Gordon’s miracle dunk — this matchup has been nothing short of a basketball spectacle.

Thursday’s Game 6 has the potential to become an instant classic. Whether it’s a Leonard takeover or another Denver clinic, all eyes will be on Crypto.com Arena as the Western Conference battle rages on.