DENVER (AP) — Nuggets point guard Jamal Murray started Game 5 of the defending NBA champions’ playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night despite a strained left calf.
Murray warmed up with an ice pack wrapped around his calf, which he hurt Saturday night, and Denver’s medical staff determined he was at low risk of aggravating the injury by playing in Game 5.
The Nuggets were up 3-1 in the series and trying to close out the Lakers, whom they swept in the Western Conference finals last year on their way to winning the franchise’s first NBA title.
The Lakers were trying to become the first team ever to bounce back from a 3-0 deficit in a best-of-seven series to advance.
Murray was injured in the second half of the Nuggets’ Game 4 loss at Los Angeles that snapped Denver’s 11-game winning streak against LeBron James and the Lakers.
He didn’t leave the game but was listed as questionable on the team’s injury report Sunday.
About 90 minutes before tip-off, Nuggets coach Michael Malone said Murray’s playing status depended on how he felt during warmups.
“It just comes down to being responsible,” Malone said. “Are we a better team with Jamal Murray? Of course we are. Does he give us a better chance to win? Of course he does. He’s one of the better playoff players that I’ve ever been around.
“But sometimes I have to be the adult in the room and, if need be, the voice of reason and take a bigger picture approach,” Malone added.
The winner of this series advances to play the Minnesota Timberwolves, who are coming off their first series win in 20 years. They completed the franchise’s first-ever sweep with a 122-116 win at Phoenix on Sunday.
Murray has struggled with his jump shot during the series despite hitting the winning buzzer-beater in Game 2, the first such shot in Nuggets playoff history.
Murray entered Monday night having shot 38% from the field and 21% from beyond the arc in the playoff series against the Lakers after shooting 48.1% overall and 42.5% on 3-pointers during the regular season, which were both career bests.
“I mean, he’s tough, man,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said. “Even though he may not have a good shooting night, he makes the key plays and he makes timely plays. So he’s tough. You can throw the numbers out the window. When he’s on the floor, he’s a threat. He’s more than capable of putting his team on his back and getting them where they need to get to.”
Murray missed 23 games this season while dealing with hamstring, knee, ankle and shin ailments, including seven straight down the stretch.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, second from left, goes after a loose ball along with Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, center, center Nikola Jokic, second from right, and guard Austin Reaves, right, after James knocked the ball from the hands of Jokic during the second half in Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Nuggets point guard Jamal Murray starts Game 5 against Lakers despite strained left calf
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, left, shoots as Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James defends during the first half in Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Nuggets point guard Jamal Murray starts Game 5 against Lakers despite strained left calf
TORONTO (AP) — Bo Bichette had three doubles among his four hits, José Berríos pitched six solid innings to snap a four-start winless streak, and the Toronto Blue Jays won consecutive games for the first time in more than three weeks by beating the struggling Chicago White Sox 9-3 on Monday.
Daulton Varsho and Danny Jansen each hit a two-run home run and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. reached base three times and drove in a run as Toronto won back-to-back games for the first time since home wins over the Dodgers and Kansas City on April 28 and 29.
“We’re going out there and we’re fighting and competing every day, trying to win,” Jansen said. “I like the way we’ve been playing.”
The Blue Jays have won eight straight over the White Sox, a streak that dates back to 2022.
Bichette began the day in an 0-for-12 slump but broke out in style. He doubled and scored in the second inning, singled in the third, drove in Guerrero with an RBI double in the sixth, then added another double in the seventh.
Berríos (5-3) allowed three runs and eight hits to win for the first time since a road victory over San Diego on April 20. He struck out six and walked two.
“He’s always a tough task and no different today,” White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said.
Varsho gave the Blue Jays a 2-1 lead with a two-out homer off White Sox right-hander Erick Fedde in the second, his team-leading eighth.
“Getting the lead right back is big, especially when you’ve got José on the mound,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said.
Fedde (4-1) allowed five runs and seven hits in six innings for his first loss of the season. He walked one and struck out two.
“They came out with a game plan against me,” Fedde said. “I thought they were super aggressive.”
Batting second for the first time, Jansen extended the lead to 7-3 with a two-out drive off reliever Jordan Leasure in the seventh, his fifth. He added a two-run single in the ninth and finished with three hits and five RBIs.
“He’s having good at bats, he’s hitting the ball hard,” Schneider said. “He’s been pretty consistent all year.”
The White Sox (14-34) dropped their fourth straight and matched a season-worst by falling 20 games below .500.
“Overall, we just got beat,” Grifol said. “Eight extra-base hits on their end and we had just a couple.”
Chicago’s Paul DeJong had three hits, including his seventh home run — a leadoff shot against Berríos in the seventh.
Berríos exited after walking White Sox catcher Korey Lee in the next at-bat. Yimi García came on and retired three straight batters.
Lee opened the scoring with an RBI single in a four-hit second, but the rally ended when Lee was thrown out at home plate trying for a delayed steal of home.
Blue Jays DH Justin Turner went 0 for 4 and is hitless in 29 at-bats.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Chicago activated RHP Dominic Leone (lower back) off the 15-day IL and designated RHP Brad Keller for assignment.
UP NEXT
LHP Yusei Kikuchi (2-3, 2.60 ERA) is expected to start for the Blue Jays on Tuesday night. LHP Garrett Crochet (4-4, 4.18) is scheduled for the White Sox.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Chicago White Sox's Korey Lee, right, sets off for first base in front of Toronto Blue Jays catcher Danny Jansen, left, after hitting an RBI single during second-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Monday, May 20, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays outfielders Daulton Varsho, left, and George Springer, center, celebrate with Kevin Kiermaier, right, after Kiermaier caught Chicago White Sox's Tommy Pham's line drive to end a baseball game in Toronto, Monday, May 20, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr. rounds second base after a double by teammate Bo Bichette during seventh-inning baseball game action against the Chicago White Sox in Toronto, Monday, May 20, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher José Berríos walks to the dugout out as his is pulled from a baseball game after walking Chicago White Sox's Korey Lee during seventh-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Monday, May 20, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays' Davis Schneider, left, hits a double in front of Chicago White Sox catcher Korey Lee, right, during seventh-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Monday, May 20, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays' Danny Jansen is doused after his team's win over the Chicago White Sox in baseball game action in Toronto, Monday, May 20, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Chicago White Sox's Paul DeJong, bottom, rounds the bases after a solo home run as Toronto Blue Jays first base Vladimir Guerrero Jr., top, looks on during sixth-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Monday, May 20, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr. rounds the bases to score on a double by teammate Bo Bichette during sixth-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Monday, May 20, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr. dives into home to score on a double by teammate Bo Bichette during sixth-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Monday, May 20, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays' Danny Jansen rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run during seventh-inning baseball game action against the Chicago White Sox in Toronto, Monday, May 20, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays' Danny Jansen, right, hits an RBI double during third-inning baseball game action against the Chicago White Sox in Toronto, Monday, May 20, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr., right, hits an RBI single during third-inning baseball game action against the Chicago White Sox in Toronto, Monday, May 20, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Chicago White Sox pitcher Erick Fedde reacts at the end of third-inning baseball game action against the Toronto Blue Jays in Toronto, Monday, May 20, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Chicago White Sox pitcher Erick Fedde (20) works during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox in Toronto, Monday, May 20, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Chicago White Sox's Nicky Lopez, right, is out as he protects his head while sliding toward Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Davis Schneider (36) during fifth-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Monday, May 20, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Jose Berrios throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox in Toronto, Monday, May 20, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho (25) hits a two-run home run during second inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox in Toronto, Monday, May 20, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette (11) celebrates after scoring on a two-run home run by teammate Daulton Varsho during the second inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox in Toronto, Monday, May 20, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
