Denver Nuggets oust Los Angeles Clippers in Game 7, progressing in NBA playoffs, ready for second-round duel against top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder.
Denver Nuggets strolled into the second round of the NBA playoffs after a dominant 120-101 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers in a do-or-die Game 7.
Hero of the night was Aaron Gordon who scored 22 points, with Christian Braun adding an impressive 21 points. Nikola Jokic, NBA's MVP contender, chipped in with 16 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists. The Nuggets' well-rounded performance and fierce defense left the Clippers dumbfounded on Saturday evening.
The Clippers had been riding high after a stirring Game 6 triumph just two days prior. However, any sparks they'd carried dissipated speedily in the face of a dreadful display by James Harden. Harden ended up with a measly 7 points, making only two of his eight shots.
Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers with a score of 22 points, but even their strong start in the first quarter – a 26-21 lead – couldn’t keep up with the Nuggets' onslaught. The Nuggets responded with a massive 37 points in the second quarter, taking control, and then they ramped it up in the third with a brutal 17-0 run, extending their lead to 75-50.
The Nuggets enjoyed a comfortable 35-point advantage at the start of the fourth quarter, and even with Jokic sidelined due to foul trouble, the Clippers couldn't make any significant impact. Jamal Murray scored 16 points for the Nuggets, praising his teammates, stating everyone got in the action, and the home crowd played a crucial role in sealing the win.
Russell Westbrook, who had usurped his former team, scored 16 points with 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 5 steals – making his mark on the game. Westbrook, ever the showman, underscored his dominance midway through the fourth quarter by stealing the ball, racing for a dunk, and drawing a technical foul to rouse the home crowd even further.
Despite a turbulent end to their regular season with Michael Malone getting sacked three games prior, the Nuggets managed to advance to face the Oklahoma City Thunder. The upcoming series will pit Jokic, a strong MVP contender, against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, another MVP finalist. The teams clash on Monday for Game 1, with the Thunder – who had the best record in the league with 68 wins – entering as clear favorites.
- Monday evening's NBA game between Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder promises a meaningful encounter, given both Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are strong MVP contenders.
- Kawhi Leonard, with 22 points, led the Clippers in their Game 7 loss against Denver on Saturday, while James Harden struggled, scoring just 7 points.
- The Clippers' Monday game against the Nuggets marks Russell Westbrook's return to play against his former team, where he notched 16 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 5 steals in their last encounter.
- In the Nuggets' recent victory over the Clippers,AI experiment demonstrates the power of AI with the team's excellent performance, particularly in the second quarter when they scored 37 points, following a brutal 17-0 run in the third quarter.
- Aaron Gordon emerged as the hero of the night for the Nuggets in their Game 7 win over the Clippers, scoring 22 points, while Christian Braun contributed an impressive 21 points.
