Denver Basketball Team, Nuggets, Faces Off against Competitors
No Regrets for the Nuggets: They Scorch the Clippers
Series Over, Nugs Advance
Game 7 was a different story for the Clippers. They didn't choke this time, but they still didn't make it to the next round. On Saturday, the Nuggets put on a display, crushing the Clippers 120-101 in a closeout win. Here are three key takeaways from the showdown.
Braun Shuts Down Harden
As time ticked down on a lackluster first half, James Harden decided to isolate against Christian Braun. That was a mistake.
Braun wasn't dancing that night. Instead, he clung onto Harden like a barnacle, not letting up on his defense without committing a foul. And when the shot clock hit zero, Harden's shot sailed through the air, missing the mark.
"Braun accepted the challenge," Nikola Jokic said after Game 6. And he won it.
Harden's game wasn't up to par yet again, finishing with just 7 points and going 2-8 from the field. Braun, however, managed a crucial 21 points in Game 7.
Bench Impact
For a significant portion of the first quarter, Jokic slumped, missing his first five shots. But it didn't matter. Denver's bench stepped it up, pushing the lead to 26-21.
When Jokic picked up his fifth foul in the third quarter with Denver leading by 27 points, it was clear that the Nuggets closing wagon was rolling. Even when the Clippers squeezed their way to 27 points in the fourth, they'd already thrown in the towel, with Tyronn Lue benching James Harden and Kawhi Leonard.
Jamal Murray calmly nailed a couple of jumpers, and Michael Porter Jr. provided timely shotmaking, finishing with 15 points in a gutsy performance. The bench-driven push from Los Angeles in the fourth quarter came too late.
Westbrook's Scorching Performance
Despite some rough patches during the series, Russell Westbrook embraced the beast within and delivered an outstanding performance in Game 7. As Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray struggled, Westbrook took advantage of the open floor, delivering a series career-high 42% from deep.
His energy, with five steals and a boisterous fourth-quarter technical foul for slamming the rim after a dunk, overwhelmed the Clippers' bench. The floor spacing was critical, once again, for Westbrook to operate effectively.
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Sources:1. https://www.espn.com/nba/2. https://www.sbnation.com/nba3. https://www.bleacherreport.com/4. https://www.nba.com5. https://www.cbssports.com/nba
- The policy on player rotations and bench contributions proved crucial for the Nuggets' victory over the Clippers, as their bench players significantly contributed to the team's lead despite Nikola Jokic's early struggles.
- Despite the NBA's strict laws on off-court conduct, Russell Westbrook's energetic and passionate performance, which included a technical foul, was a key factor in the Nuggets' Game 7 victory over the Clippers.
- The political arena often debates the impact of certain sports policies, and the recent success of NBA teams like the Nuggets, who emphasize balanced rosters, is a testament to the value of a well-rounded, collective effort in the sport.
