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Balkan Ballers - đŸ”„ Jokic’s Triple-Double, Zubac’s Career Night, and Murray’s 43-Point Masterclass Power Nuggets Past Clippers in Game 5

You know Yugoslavia with Luka and Jokic would beat Team USA by 20

April 30, 2025

🃏 Joker’s Corner: Nikola Jokić Watch đŸŽ­đŸ”„

 đŸ”„ Jokic’s Triple-Double, Zubac’s Career Night, and Murray’s 43-Point Masterclass Power Nuggets Past Clippers in Game 5

The defending champs are knocking on the door of the second round. The Denver Nuggets put on a show Tuesday night, dominating the LA Clippers 131-115 to take a 3-2 series lead and move within one win of a date with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

🎯 Jamal Murray was in full flamethrower mode, erupting for 43 points on a red-hot 17-of-26 shooting and 8-of-14 from three. He danced around every defensive coverage the Clippers threw at him - blitzes, drops, switches - you name it. When L.A. cut the lead to 9 in the fourth, Murray iced the game with six straight points in an 11-0 run that slammed the door shut.

🃏 Nikola Jokic continued his playoff dominance with a signature triple-double: 13 points, 10 rebounds, 12 assists, and a team-best +18. Even while taking a backseat in scoring, Jokic pulled the strings offensively, creating open looks and calmly picking apart the Clippers' defense.

🚀 Russell Westbrook made a statement in his return from injury, injecting energy and pace with 21 points in just 18 minutes -16 of those coming in the first half. His early scoring helped Denver build a cushion they never gave up.

đŸ’Ș Aaron Gordon added 23 points, continuing his excellent series, and Christian Braun chipped in a tough 11-point, 12-rebound double-double, while also locking down James Harden, who struggled again with 11 points on 3-of-9 shooting and four turnovers.

🎯 Ivica Zubac was the bright spot for the Clippers, delivering a playoff career-high 27 points on 73% shooting, with 5 rebounds and 2 blocks. He battled Jokic all night and brought fight to the paint.

📈 One positive for L.A.? Bogdan Bogdanović finally found some rhythm, scoring 18 points in 23 minutes on 45.5% from the field and 50% from three, with 5 assists and perfect free-throw shooting. It was his most productive and efficient outing of the series, and a promising sign for the Clippers heading into Game 6.

Despite containing Jokic’s scoring, Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue summed it up: “That’s how they beat you. You worry about Joker and then Murray torches you. He was excellent tonight.”

⏭ Game 6 heads to the Intuit Dome on Thursday night. Denver has the momentum—and the firepower—to close it out. But if the Clippers can build on Zubac’s dominance and Bogdanović’s resurgence, we may still get a Game 7 thriller.

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