DENVER -- The fifth game of a first round series has not been kind to the Clippers over the the past year or so. In 2024, the Mavericks handed the Clippers their worst home loss in playoff franchise history with a 123-93 victory in Game 5.
Fast forward a year and in Game 5 of this series, the Clippers lost 131-116 in Denver to put themselves on the brink of elimination once again.
Clippers-Mavericks, Game 5 in 2024: 123-93 loss at home to go down 3-2
— Grant "Money" Mona (@Gmona48) April 30, 2025
Clippers-Nuggets, Game 5 in 2025: 131-116 loss in Denver to go down 3-2
Just crazy. pic.twitter.com/DYji8xUl0D
For a team in the Clippers that were the hottest going into the playoffs and had taken a 2-1 lead, the last two games are inauspicious.
A loss in Game 4 after three bad quarters and a 22-point comeback that fell short evened the series up, and now 4 quarters of bad basketball doomed the Clippers again.
Now down 3-2 in this series heading back to Intuit Dome, where do the Clippers go from here?
Kawhi Leonard had 20 points, 9 rebounds and 11 assists, but did not play like the Kawhi in Game 2, and really hasn't since then.
It's a KAWHILIGHT😳 pic.twitter.com/i8TvN557Qn
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) April 30, 2025
James Harden has put up back-to-back lackluster performances and had skipped both media sessions postgame in the process.
A once promising series that looked like it could have ended in 5 games, is now in danger of being a first-round exit for a Clipper team that has more talent and depth than the Denver Nuggets.
Is Jamal Murray's 43 point game and Russell Westbrook's 21 point game a big reason for Denver's blowout win? Sure, but the team now has to look inward.
Kawhi Leonard, James Harden and Norman Powell: 43 points combined.
— Clippers UK (@ClippersUK) April 30, 2025
Jamal Murray: 43 points alone.
That’s the difference, Clippers needed more from their stars tonight and will need it in Game 6 facing elimination.
Lethargic feet, missed free throws and regular season intensity plagued the Clippers in their biggest game of the season for the second straight year.
Ivica Zubac scored a playoff career-high 27 points and Kawhi had a career-high 10 assists, but it was all for nothing.
Denver has all the momentum and now the confidence that they can beat this Clippers team, even back at Intuit Dome.
The Clippers season comes down to Game 6 on Thursday. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m. PT.