NBA Playoffs 2020: Previewing the two Games 5s on Day 9 of the postseason

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Courtesy of the first-round sweeps by the Toronto Raptors and the Boston Celtics, day nine of the 2020 playoffs only showcases Games 5s from the Western Conference. 

Both match-ups, however, are quite differently placed. While the Nuggets could have their season end as early as Game 5 of their first-round series, it's a decisive Game 5 in the entertaining Clippers-Mavericks matchup, that could swing the series for either team.

We've got you covered with everything you need to know ahead of Wednesday's two Game 5s.

All win probabilities are per FiveThirtyEight's NBA Predictions model. All times in IST.

Utah Jazz @ Denver Nuggets - Game 5 @ 4:00 AM

Win probability: Nuggets/Jazz - 50%

Through four games, this has been Donovan Mitchell's series. In the series so far, he's averaging 39.5 points, 5.8 assists, and 4.5 rebounds on 56.3% shooting from the field and 51.4% from beyond the arc. 

After yet another 50-piece in Game 4, he became only the third player after Allen Iverson and Michael Jordan to record multiple 50-point games in the same playoff series. 

Led by the third-year guard, the Jazz, despite missing key wing Bojan Bogdanovic have carved up the Nuggets' defence, one that ranked 16th in defensive rating during the regular season but ranks dead last among the 16 playoff teams.

Missing key rotation players in Gary Harris and Will Barton, Denver have leaned on the production of their two young stars Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, who have been putting up numbers, but so far haven't been able to power the Nuggets to victory, outside of their Game 1 heroics in overtime.

How will Game 5 go? Will we see another offensive exhibition? With the third-seed Nuggets' season on the line, can they extend this series or will the Jazz advance to the second round for the third time in four years?  

Dallas Mavericks @ LA Clippers - Game 5 @ 6:30 AM

Win probability: Clippers - 60%

Given the circumstances of the game, Luka Doncic's performance in Game 4, capped off by his game-winning three, could be among the greatest single-game performances in NBA playoff history. 

Game 4 was certainly his best performance of the series but he's been performing exceptionally and setting records in every game. Can he do it yet again in Game 5? 

Possibly but some help wouldn't hurt, unfortunately, there's no update yet on the availability of Kristaps Porzingis - Dallas' other young star. Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle has stated the Latvian center is questionable for Game 5. 

Does this open the gate for the Clippers, who could see Doncic's heroic brilliance in Game 4 as a one-off? Considered among the contenders, the deep Los Angeles squad will be hoping to see more from Paul George and Montrezl Harrell in what could prove to be a pivotal game in the series. 

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