By Daniel Paiz

Jamal Murray drops a heroic 32 points and seven assists, including the last score of the game to guide the Nuggets to a 108-106 win, eliminating the Los Angeles Lakers 4-1. Despite dealing with a left calf strain and being questionable to play in Game 5, Denver’s closer played 41 minutes and was instrumental in the win. Nikola Jokic added 25 points, 20 rebounds and nine assists, while Michael Porter Jr. added 26 points. Aaron Gordon didn’t have a good scoring night, but his 13 rebounds were monumental in the final minutes of that last quarter.

LeBron James had another impressive performance, dropping 30 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds. All five starters for LA scored double digits, including 19 points from Austin Reaves, and an Anthony Davis double-double of 17 points and 15 rebounds. Lost in the shuffle of the big performances is the bench impact: Denver won that battle 13-11, one of the few times they’ve done so in this series.

A battle for four quarters

Jamal Murray drives to the hoop and hits a floater, then hits a three a few possessions later to give Denver a 5-3 lead. After a handful of bad shots and counter scores it’s 11-6 LA. Denver has to up the pace and attack the paint, because LA getting in the paint is the main reason they’re scoring. Back-to-back Jokic buckets and back-to-back Murray threes makes it 16-13 with just over four minutes to go. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope heads to the locker room after landing awkwardly on a drive and limping afterwards; hoping it isn’t something serious. Reggie Jackson hits a couple of buckets, and the Nuggets lead at the end of quarter one, 28-24. There’s an air of resilience right now for this team.

Some good defense, some decent shots here and there, but this one is a battle in the second, tied at 34. Porter Jr. and Jackson have hit, but it’s a grindingly slow pace. The calls are not going Denver’s way, and part of that frustration is allowing LA to go up 41-34. Denver is getting into the paint; they have to attack and crash the boards more. Murray floats one over James to cut it to 43-39. 48-43 LA now with less than two minutes to go, Denver is making bad passes and letting the no calls get to them a bit too much. There has to be a realization of the whistle won’t go your way for now and outhustle LA to change the tide. Gordon hits a corner three and Denver is down just three at the half, 53-50.

62-56 now with a Murray midrange swish to cut into that lead at the 8:25 mark, Denver seems to be slow going again offensively. 4:43 left as Denver cuts into it again to make it 69-65; these teams are tired. Porter Jr hits a big three and Denver has a 79-76 after LA scores a bucket afterwards. The transition game is picking up, which is Denver’s language. Denver leads 81-79 at the end of three; this fourth quarter is going to be something else.

Peyton Watson hits a big three from the corner to make it 84-79 Denver to start the fourth. Denver is back to a slower pace and allowing LA to play their game more, thus leading to this tie at 87 with 8:30 left. Caldwell-Pope hits a huge three to make it 92-91 with just under six minutes to go. Porter Jr. hits his own huge three to make it 95-93 with just over five left. Murray just slam dunked on James! LA takes a timeout with three and a half minutes to go, Denver up 99-97.

This is a battle of wills and Ball Arena is ecstatic right now. Jokic floater makes it 101-99. Gordon gets a giant rebound, passes to Murray, 106-104 Denver. After some James free throws to tie it at 106, Jokic sets a pick for Murray, who goes to his left, shoots over Reaves, and hits the game winner 108-106. The Denver Nuggets eliminate the Los Angeles Lakers four games to one.

Keys to winning Game 5

27 to 9

Yet again the Lakers were granted 27 trips to the free throw line, while Denver only had nine. That’s a discrepancy that’s problematic, and another reason why Nuggets fans are excited to be done with LA. Fortunately, Denver slowly worked to overcome that imbalance and won a more important stat.

45 to 41

Denver outrebounded LA, and those fourth quarter rebounds were incredibly important. Gordon didn’t have a big scoring night, but his 13 rebounds were instrumental in tonight’s hard-fought win. Rebounds are an effort stat, and Denver knew they had to win the battle of the boards.

28 to 24

Denver needed a stronger start in Game 5, and they had with 28 first quarter points. The pace for the Nuggets in this series wasn’t their normal up and down the court style of play, but their experience from last year’s run helped them out. In this upcoming round against Minnesota, they’re going to need faster starts to deal with Anthony Edwards and company. Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals is set for Saturday, May 4th. Denver will need to rest up Murray, Jackson, and everyone else tired from these first five games.