Kawhi Leonard flatly rejects the prospect of elimination against the Nuggets
The Los Angeles Clippers are on the brink of elimination after a dismal Game 5 loss against the Denver Nuggets**, with Kawhi Leonard's team now just one step away from being knocked out.
Following two lackluster performances, where they trailed by a substantial margin, the Clippers are scrambling for answers.
Kawhi Leonard's candid assessment of facing elimination versus the Nuggets
Kawhi Leonard notched 20 points, nine rebounds, 11 assists, two blocks, and just one turnover in 37 minutes of play in Game 5. Despite his impressive stat line, it wasn't enough as the Nuggets led by double-digits for the majority of the second half.
James Harden's absence was palpable for a second consecutive game, finishing with 11 points, eight rebounds, and five assists on a subpar 33% shooting from the floor. The Nuggets have prioritized blitzing pick-and-rolls involving Harden, essentially sidelining him once he passes to the open roll man.
Jamal Murray and Russell Westbrook shined in Game 5, with the guards outscoring Kawhi Leonard, Harden, and Norman Powell.
Murray displayed a record-breaking performance with a game-high 43 points, five rebounds, seven assists, and three steals while shooting 17-of-26 from the field and 8-of-14 from three. Westbrook contributed 21 points, eight rebounds, and three assists, including three three-pointers.
"Tonight, he played fantastic," Kawhi Leonard acknowledged of Jamal Murray. "He came out making shots, got hot, found his teammates, and it seemed like we couldn't stop him. He played a sensational game. Russ came in and played great as well, scoring around 20 points."
Head coach Tyronn Lue concurs, citing Murray's strong start as the reason the Clippers fell behind by as much as 12 points in the first quarter and were unable to recover.
"I believe the primary reason for our poor start was Jamal Murray," Lue admitted after the loss." He started the game aggressively, which we expected. He made every shot, whether it was pull-up threes, mid-rangers, or contested jumpers. We tried a multitude of different defensive strategies against him, including blitzes, drops, switches, and various coverages, but he had an exceptional game."
Clippers' issues in the opening minutes
So far in this series, the Clippers have been significantly outplayed in the opening minutes. Through the 25 minutes at the start of each game, the Nuggets have outscored the Clippers 76-53. However, the Clippers have managed to win the remaining 220 minutes, 493-453.
Clippers' Tyronn Lue's defiant stance on changes with the season on the line against the Nuggets
Clippers' James Harden's media silence following a consecutive poor performance against the Nuggets
Fans at Game 5 voiced their displeasure, shouting "Harden Sucks" throughout the game.
Other key moments from Game 5, including technical fouls on Nikola Jokic and Russell Westbrook for a confrontation
As Nikola Jokić managed just 13 points on 4-of-13 shooting, he contributed with 10 rebounds and 12 assists, racking up his fourth triple-double in five games this postseason. Aaron Gordon added 23 points and four rebounds, while Christian Braun scored 11 points with 12 rebounds.
"We need to come out with more energy in the opening minutes," Leonard suggested." For most of the series, we've started the game with an impressive effort, but then we find ourselves having to make heroic comebacks. We need to stay in the game early and maintain our focus."
Now faced with elimination, Leonard reiterates the need for his team to keep playing confidently and maintaining a next-play mentality.
"Taking each possession one at a time, starting off the game with a positive approach, avoiding getting down early, and staying poised and resilient are our priorities."
Game 6 is scheduled for 7PM PST on TNT. A win for the Nuggets would send them to the second round, where the Oklahoma City Thunder await.
- Kawhi Leonard expressed admiration for Jamal Murray's performance in Game 5, acknowledging, "He played fantastic. He came out making shots, got hot, found his teammates, and it seemed like we couldn't stop him. He played a sensational game."
- Head coach Tyronn Lue concurred, admitting that Murray's strong start was the primary reason the Clippers fell behind in the first quarter and attributed the team's poor start to the opening minutes of the game, stating, "We need to come out with more energy in the opening minutes."
- Clippers have been significantly outplayed in the opening minutes of games against the Nuggets, with the Nuggets outscoring them 76-53 in the first 25 minutes. However, the Clippers have managed to win the remaining 220 minutes, 493-453.
- Game 6 between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Denver Nuggets is scheduled for 7PM PST on TNT, with the Nuggets potentially advancing to the second round and facing the Oklahoma City Thunder if they secure a win.
