The Denver Nuggets are headed to the second round of the NBA Playoffs after dismantling the Los Angeles Clippers 120-101 in Game 7 on Saturday night at Ball Arena.
With their season on the line, the defending champs delivered a dominant performance, overwhelming the Clippers on both ends of the floor. Aaron Gordon led the way with 22 points, while Christian Braun added 21. Reigning NBA MVP Nikola Jokic nearly posted a triple-double, finishing with 16 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists.
“Everybody was locked in,” said guard Jamal Murray, who chipped in 16 points. “The energy was there, the fans were loud, and we just played our game.”
Clippers Start Hot, But Nuggets Take Over
The Clippers opened the game strong and held a 26-21 lead after the first quarter. But the Nuggets erupted with 37 points in the second quarter to flip the momentum. Then came the knockout blow: a 17-0 third-quarter run that extended Denver’s lead to 75-50.
By the end of the third quarter, Denver was up 93-66, and the game was effectively over. Even with Jokic sitting due to foul trouble, the Clippers couldn’t mount any kind of rally.
Denver Dominates the Paint and the Glass
The Nuggets flexed their muscle inside, outscoring the Clippers 54-42 in the paint. They also won the rebounding battle 46-36 and turned those boards into 22 second-chance points.
L.A. looked completely outmatched, especially after showing signs of life with a Game 6 win. James Harden had another tough night, scoring just seven points on 2-of-8 shooting. Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers with 22 points, but received little help.
Westbrook Adds Fire Against Former Team
Russell Westbrook brought energy off the bench, scoring 16 points and stuffing the stat sheet with five rebounds, five assists, and five steals. He added some drama in the fourth quarter with a fastbreak dunk and rim hang that drew a technical — and fired up the Denver crowd.
Coaching Shakeup Doesn’t Slow Denver
The Nuggets’ playoff run comes after a chaotic end to the regular season. Head coach Michael Malone was fired just three games before the playoffs, and assistant David Adelman was named interim head coach. Despite the sudden change, Denver has looked sharp and focused.
This win also helps erase the sting of last year’s playoff heartbreak, when they blew a Game 7 lead and lost to the Timberwolves in the second round.
Thunder Loom in Second Round Battle
Next up for Denver is a highly anticipated series against the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder, who finished the regular season with 68 wins and swept the Grizzlies in the first round.
The matchup will feature two MVP finalists in Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, setting the stage for a blockbuster showdown.
“It’s going to be intense,” said Murray. “Both teams play fast, both have stars. It’s going to be a fun, physical series.”
Game 1 tips off Monday night.
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