For a fourth time in the 2020 NBA Playoffs, Denver's season was on the line.
And for a fourth time, the Nuggets pulled off a win to stay alive.
Denver outscored the LA Clippers 38-25 in the fourth quarter of Game 5 to cap off a 16-point comeback in a game that saw its lone lead change happen late in the game.
"It's a game of runs," Jokic said postgame. "So, we were just waiting for our little run and it happened. The fourth quarter was amazing."
"We didn't want to quit. We were locked in during the fourth quarter." #MileHighBasketball pic.twitter.com/pwrHltcSzq
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) September 12, 2020
Jokic was Denver's biggest contributor with 22 points, 14 rebounds, five assists and a block. The trio of Jokic (11), Jamal Murray (9) and Michael Porter Jr. (7) combined for 27 of the team's 38 fourth-quarter points.
The Nuggets saw a huge drop-off in production from Murray, who went from averaging 31.6 points against the Utah Jazz to 19.4 through five games against the Clippers. In this one, he had 26 points, eight rebounds and seven assists in 40 minutes of action.
“We play best when our backs are against the wall.”
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) September 12, 2020
Jamal Murray after the Nuggets come back from a 16-PT deficit to take Game 5. pic.twitter.com/zvvXugzavJ
The Canadian guard is right. With this win, the Nuggets are 4-0 when facing elimination this postseason. Can they pull off another 3-1 comeback to become the first team ever to do so in consecutive playoff series?
They certainly believe so.
"I know everybody is excited about the Lakers playing the Clippers in the Western Conference Finals but we’re hoping to have something to say about that," Nuggets head coach Mike Malone said postgame.
"We ain't Gone Fishin' yet." 😂🎣
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) September 12, 2020
Michael Malone responds to Chuck's halftime guarantee. pic.twitter.com/Urpze2tS2F
For the Clippers, their first-ever Conference Finals appearance will have to wait at least a couple of days.
"We're in the driver's seat," Paul George said postgame. "We had them where we wanted them, we should've put them away."
The two teams will meet again in Game 6 on Sunday, Sept. 13 at 10:30 p.m. IST.
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