Denver Basketball Team, Nuggets, Face Off in Exciting Match
Laying It All Out: Here's what went down in Nuggets' 111-105 loss to Clippers in Game 6.
Slip Shapes: This isn't funny business - turnovers and Joker's dip in performance were no laughing matter. A behavior that should make even the most stoic of fans' stomachs churn, the Nuggets faltered with five turnovers in the opening minutes of the second quarter. They faced off against a smaller Clippers lineup, making the most of Nic Batum and basically ghosting Ben Simmons. DeAndre Jordan floundered, forcing an early comeback for Nikola Jokic. But keeping the Clippers in the game came with a cost. Jokic racked up 20 points in the first half, but foul trouble and possibly fatigue took its toll, leaving him with a quiet second half - just 5 points on 2 of 9 shooting. With 24 seconds left, a blocked driving layup by Ivica Zubac left Jokic yearning for a foul, handing the Clippers their ticket to Game 7.
History Repeats Itself: Small-game James Harden helped the Nuggets snatch a 3-2 series lead, but historically, his production dwindles in Games 5-7. Harden managed 26 points combined in Games 4 and 5 but bucked his trend with a more brash approach in Game 6, posting 28 points. With a bevy of moves, from stepback 3s to driving layups, he was instrumental in the Nuggets' win in Game 5. But his Game 1 persona has been MIA at Ball Arena since then.
Powell's Shining Moment: Norman Powell's performance in Denver was less than stellar in this series, averaging 12.3 points per game. But he went back to his roots in Los Angeles offering his offense back to life. He posted 11 points in the third quarter with seamless takings from transition and behind the arc. He surpassed 20 points in all three games at Intuit Dome, including his 24-point outburst in Game 6. The Clippers' struggle from 3-point range in the first half was uplifted by Powell and co., draining 4 of 9 behind the arc in the third quarter, outscoring Denver 32-22.
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Source: Enrichment Data: [1], [2], [3], [4], [5]
- The Nuggets' loss to the Clippers in Game 6 was a result of their average performance and a questionable basketball policy, as turnovers and a dip in Jokic's performance were critical factors.
- In the politics of the NBA, James Harden's production tends to decrease in Games 5-7, a pattern that repeated itself in the Nuggets' series against the Clippers.
- Despite struggling in the series, Norman Powell spawned a resurgence in his performance in Los Angeles, spoiling the average Nuggets defense with 11 points in the third quarter.
- The Clippers' 3-point shooting struggles in the first half of Game 6 were alleviated by Powell and others, sending 4 of 9 three-pointers into the net during the third quarter.
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