Russell Westbrook's vintage performance sparks Nuggets' win over Clippers

Jamal Murray erupted for 43 points and Russell Westbrook chipped in 21 in his return from a foot injury, sparking the Nuggets' 131-115 win over the LA Clippers on Tuesday night that gave Denver a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.

The Nuggets also got 23 from Game 4 hero Aaron Gordon and Nikola Jokic's 21st career playoff triple-double (18 points, 10 rebounds, 12 assists).

Again, Denver took a 22-point lead early in the fourth quarter only to watch the Clippers go on a furious run, like they did in Game 4 when they erased their entire deficit only to lose 101-99 when Gordon's buzzer-beater for the first walk-off dunk in NBA playoff history.

This time, the Clippers went on a 17-4 run to cut their deficit to single digits at 116-107, but the Nuggets fended off another frenetic finish by going on an 11-0 run with Murray scoring six and Gordon five to compel Clippers coach Tyronn Lue to empty his bench.

Game 6 is Thursday night at the Intuit Dome and another win by Denver would set up a second-round series against top-seeded Oklahoma City.

Ivaca Zubac led the Clippers with a playoff career-high 27 points, Kawhi Leonard added 20 and Bogdan Bogdanovic added 18.

Murray was 8 of 14 from beyond the arc and 17 of 26 overall. He even sank a 3 from the top of the key that didn't count because the ball left his fingertips a split-second after the red light lit up the backboard signaling the end of the first half.

That left Denver with a 67-59 lead, which the Nuggets extended to 99-83 heading into the fourth quarter thanks to two big 3s in the closing seconds, one by Westbrook and the other a 28-footer from Christian Braun.

Westbrook, who sat out Game 4 with left foot inflammation, returned to action and scored 16 first-half points