The Clippers are officially one loss away from vacation. And not the “sip mimosas in Cabo” kind—more like the “watch Jamal Murray highlights from your couch” type. After a 131-115 flameout in Game 5 where Denver torched them like leftover barbecue, L.A. and Kawhi Leonard need more than just vibes. They need answers. Fast.

Jamal Murray dropped 43 like it was 2020 Disney World all over again, and the Clippers tried every defense short of putting James Harden in a disguise and sneaking him onto the Nuggets’ bench. It didn’t work. Harden got cooked, Zubac was the only guy who showed up (27 points), and Kawhi looked good—but not “save us from the abyss” good. So, is Kawhi Leonard playing tonight for Clippers’ do-or-die match-up?

Yup, the ‘Klaw’ is suiting up for Game 6. No asterisks, no “game-time decision” drama, just a clean bill of health and a serious look on his face (like always). Kawhi Leonard went 8-of-15 in Game 5 for 20 points in 37 minutes. The knee is holding up, the midrange is smooth, and he even said [Jamal] “played amazing,” which is Kawhi-speak for “we got torched.”

So yeah—he’s active. But is it enough? That’s the better question.

Good news: no major injuries. Bad news: that includes the feelings of every fan watching Harden and Powell get hunted like deer in the fourth. Seth Lundy is out, but that hasn’t changed a thing all year. The only real update is Russell Westbrook’s return—which was electric—and a reminder that Bones Hyland probably still exists somewhere.

Also worth noting: Harden has stopped speaking to the media after games. Probably because we’d ask if he left his jumper in Philly.

Who Got the Juice? Clippers vs Nuggets Depth Check

Let’s not sugarcoat it — the Clippers got cooked in Game 5. Denver rolled in with bodies, balance, and buckets, while L.A. looked like they ran out of gas and backup plans. And with the series swinging on depth, the Nuggets just proved they’ve got more than just Jokic and Murray ready to throw punches.

So, let’s dive deep. We know Jamal Murray had 43, like he was still mad about last week’s power rankings. Christian Braun crashed boards like a power forward (12 rebounds!) while Zubac dropped 27 in the most “loud stats, quiet impact” performance ever. James Harden? Shot 3-of-9. Kawhi Leonard had a solid 20, but if you blinked, you missed it. Meanwhile, Bogdan Bogdanović looked like he belonged — 18 points in 23 minutes — but was a lone wolf off the bench. The Clippers’ second unit? Nonexistent. Nuggets bench? Dropped 25 efficient points and barely broke a sweat.

You know it’s bad when Russ is your energy guy and he’s not even on your team. The Nuggets are hitting 55.8% from the field and 51.5% from deep in the series. And Clippers? Still decent at 48.6 FG%, but their 64.3% FT clip in Game 5 was straight-up sabotage. And don’t get me started on rebounding: Denver out-boarded them 38-38 in Game 5, but Christian Braun alone outmuscled L.A.’s frontcourt.

Where do the Clippers shine? Passing. 25.8 dimes a game vs Denver’s 24.8 — cool stat, but tough to brag about when your defense lets Jamal Murray moonwalk to the rim. The Nuggets also averaged fewer turnovers (14.2 vs 12.4) despite more ball movement.

Game 5 was a masterclass in why having 9-10 guys who can actually hoop matters. The Nuggets trusted Braun, Westbrook, even Peyton Watson to give them real minutes. The Clippers? They threw Batum, DJJ, and Eubanks out there like they were hoping one would catch fire. News flash: they didn’t. If Game 6 is going to be different, Ty Lue better start trusting more than his top six — or this series is over, fast.