NBA's Clippers collapse from a 3-1 lead in the playoffs, marking a historic squandering, resulting in job loss for head coach.
Denver Nuggets Takedown LA Clippers in Epic Seven-Game Battle
On a thrilling Saturday night in April, the Denver Nuggets delivered a bitter taste of Game 7 defeats to the Los Angeles Clippers, emerging triumphant 120-101 to advance to the second round against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Nuggets and the Clippers served up an electric seven-game series that captivated the basketball world, with their previous playoff clash in the 2020 Western Conference Semifinals etched in NBA lore.
The Nail-biting Thriller
Thunder's playoff rivalry with the Memphis Grizzlies ended on April 26, leaving the team eagerly awaiting their second-round opponent. With Nikola Jokic and Co. heading to OKC, both teams have already marked their calendars for a hotly-anticipated showdown.
The Clippers clinched their Game 7 victory on Thursday night, battling back from a 3-2 deficit to square the series for the second time after trailing by a game. They had also overcome a 1-0 and a 2-1 deficit in their rollercoaster battle with the Nuggets.
The Clippers' past playoff performance weighs heavy on their shoulders, particularly the traumatic fallout that ensued after their heartbreaking loss in the 2020 playoffs. In the throes of the unique NBA bubble in Orlando, Florida, due to COVID-19, the Clippers, with championship aspirations and a star-studded team including Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, found themselves in a seemingly unfavorable 12-point halftime deficit in Game 5.
However, the second half of that game would be the beginning of a shocking series collapse. Game 6 followed a similar script, with the Clippers going up early only to surrender the advantage and lose 111-98, taking the series to a winner-take-all Game 7.
Game 7 saw Jamal Murray pour in 40 points as the Nuggets bamboozled the Clippers, orchestrating an unbelievable comeback from 3-1 down to seal a historic 104-89 victory. The defeat was embarrassing for the Clippers, as their top stars Leonard and George struggled when it mattered most, finishing with 14 points on 6-of-22 shooting and ten points on 4-of-16 shooting, respectively.
The game saw Leonard's career-low playoff performance, while George's struggles inside the NBA Bubble garnered online mockery, leading to the ironic moniker 'Pandemic P'. The Nuggets had seemingly pulled off the impossible, though they would ultimately fall short against the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals.
With the Clippers falling short of their championship hopes in 2020, George moved on to the Philadelphia 76ers, while Leonard continues his quest for an NBA ring alongside James Harden. The 'Joker' marches on in the NBA playoffs.
A Look Back
In the 2020 playoffs, the Clippers had entered the postseason with massive championship expectations after a significant offseason overhaul. Acquiring Kawhi Leonard through free agency and engineering a blockbuster trade for Oklahoma City's Paul George, the franchise was primed to make a run at the title.
The Clippers almost got the victory they craved in Game 5, taking a 12-point lead at halftime, only to squander the advantage in the second half. The loss was a portent of things to come, as Game 6 also saw the Clippers go up early, only to falter in the second half and lose again.
This time, the Clippers' loss in Game 7 was particularly dejecting, as the Nuggets had no business forcing a deciding game. The series marked a turning point for both teams, setting up a fresh chapter in 2025.
The Nuggets' comeback from 3-1 down to win the series made them only the third team in US major sports history to rally from a pair of 3-1 deficits in the same playoffs, joining the 1985 Kansas City Royals and 2003 Minnesota Wild. The series' aftermath saw Clippers head coach Doc Rivers being dismissed, as he holds an underwhelming 6-10 record in Game 7s and had lost five consecutive Game 7s between 2015 and 2023.
In conclusion, the 2020 playoff series between the Denver Nuggets and the Los Angeles Clippers was an epic seven-game battle teeming with drama, nail-biting finishes, and surprising comebacks. The series showcased the Nuggets' resilience and the Clippers' inability to overcome playoff pressure, providing a blueprint for future contenders and setting the stage for the 2025 NBA playoffs.
The Los Angeles Clippers' disappointing loss to the Denver Nuggets in the 2020 NBA playoffs marks a significant setback for a team that had expected to challenge for the championship. Besides basketball, the Clippers also faced challenges in boxing, as Kawhi Leonard's performance during that series was criticized, earning him the nickname 'Pandemic P'.
