By JONAS TERRADO
Jordan Clarkson and the Utah Jazz had no answer for the fiery shooting of Jamal Murray in a 119-107 loss that enabled the Denver Nuggets to force a deciding seventh game in their NBA Western Conference first round playoff series.
The Fil-American guard had 11 points in 30 minutes off the bench but shot 5-of-14 from the floor while having the worst +/- rating of any player at -24 as the Jazz failed to close out the Nuggets for the second straight game.
It was Clarkson’s lowest scoring production of the series. He entered the contest averaging 19.2 points through the first five games.
Utah couldn’t cool off Murray, who fired 50 points spiked by nine threes to keep Denver’s season alive inside the bubble at Walt Disney World in Orlando.
Murray’s final three came off Clarkson with 52.0 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to put the Nuggets up 117-107.
Game 7 is set Wednesday morning Manila time for a chance to meet the Los Angeles Clippers in the Western Conference semifinals.
Clarkson also had four rebounds, two assists and two steals but committed two turnovers for the Jazz.
Donovan Mitchell topscored for Utah with 44 points.
