Utah Jazz Unable To Stop Denver’s Jamal Murray In Second Half, Fall To Nuggets In Game 5

Aug 25, 2020, 7:15 PM | Updated: 7:53 pm

Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets reacts after a shot during the fourth quarter against the Utah Jazz in Game Five of the Western Conference First Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at The Field House at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 25, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

BY KYLE IRELAND, KSL SPORTS

KSL Sports

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – After holding a halftime lead, the Utah Jazz were unable to close out the series and stop Jamal Murray in the second half of Game 5.

The Jazz held a 3-1 series lead over Murray and the Nuggets as they entered Game 5 on Tuesday, August 25.

Utah surrendered a halftime lead of 63-54 in the second 24 minutes of action and fell 117-107.

Jamal Murray’s Performance

Murray finished with a game-high 42 points. 31 of Murray’s points came after the break.

Back-to-back 40-PT games for @BeMore27!

Jamal Murray's 42 PTS (33 in 2nd half) propel the @nuggets to Game 6, Thurs. (8/27) at 4pm/et on ESPN.#Drop40 #NBAPlayoffs #WholeNewGame pic.twitter.com/hkA08xgZxR

— NBA (@NBA) August 26, 2020

The Nuggets’ star shot 17-26 from the field, including 4-8 from three-point range. Murray added 8 rebounds, 8 assists, and a steal in the series extending game.

He posted a plus-20 rating in 41 minutes on the court, the highest of any Denver starter.

42 PTS
8 AST
8 REB
0 TO
65.3 FG%

BIG GAME 'MAL 😤 pic.twitter.com/MWdSahSPCG

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) August 26, 2020

In addition to Murray’s red-hot offense, the Nuggets’ locked down on defense and limited the Utah’s scoring.

The Jazz only scored 44 points in the second half.

Utah finished with identical shooting numbers as Denver. Over 50 percent shooting from field and 45-plus percent from downtown but sloppy play late in the game didn’t help matters.

Joe Ingles and Royce O'Neale combined for 0 points, 0-1 FG, 1 rebound, 2 fouls and 2 turnovers in the fourth quarter in 17+ combined minutes.

You can't just get nothing from those guys in a 4 point game going into the fourth quarter.

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) August 26, 2020

Donovan Mitchell on Game 5

Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell credited Denver and said that the Nuggets played like a desperate team that didn’t want to go home while also calling out Utah’s mistakes.

“We made it tough on ourselves,” Mitchell said after the loss.

The Jazz committed 15 turnovers compared to 9 by the Nuggets.

Truthfully the Jazz just need better performances from their starters.

After the second half I didn't think Joe Ingles, Royce O'Neale, or Rudy Gobert had much of an impact on the game.

Jordan Clarkson only played 10 second half minutes and scored just three points.

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) August 26, 2020

Mitchell led the Utah with 30 points on 11-23 field goals. Ever Jazz starter scored in double figures but much of that production came in the first half.