Denver’s Redemption

DENVER — The Denver Nuggets, fueled by a desire to erase last year’s painful Game 7 loss, stormed past the Los Angeles Clippers 120-101 in a commanding upset on Saturday night, securing their spot in the Western Conference Semifinals.

The Nuggets, who led by as much as 35 points, exorcised some of their Game 7 demons from last year’s staggering collapse against the Minnesota Timberwolves. In that fateful encounter, Denver squandered a 20-point lead in the fourth quarter, ultimately costing them a chance at the NBA Finals.

“It feels good,” said interim coach David Adelman, while also keeping his team grounded, “But I also know that we fly to OKC tomorrow.”

Jokic Leads, Nuggets Attack from All Angles

Nikola Jokic, Denver’s two-time MVP, recorded 16 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists in 33 minutes, but it was the collective effort from his teammates that truly tilted the scales. Aaron Gordon paced Denver with 22 points, while Christian Braun, Jamal Murray, and Russell Westbrook all chipped in 16 points apiece, and Michael Porter Jr. added 15.

“In the playoffs, everyone needs to take a step forward,” JokicROOT said. “It was special today that the boys did that.”

Braun’s lockdown defense on James Harden played a significant role in the Clippers’ offense struggling mightily, as Harden was limited to just 7 points on 2-of-8 shooting.

Clippers Can’t Keep Up with Nuggets’ Offense

The Nuggets opened the third quarter on a 17-0 run, effectively putting the game out of reach. Their aggressive rebounding, lockdown defense, and efficient offense proved to be too much for the Clippers to overcome.

“The rebound and defense were incredible,” JokicROOT said. “We had many opportunities to run and many boys took a step forward and many boys made baskets.”

Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers with 22 points, while Ivica Zubac was held to just 10 points, a far cry from his production in earlier games of the series.

Nuggets Await Oklahoma City Thunder

The Nuggets will now face the Oklahoma City Thunder, who boast the league’s best regular-season record (68-14) and await them after sweeping the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round, followed by a week of rest.

The teams split their season series 2-2, setting up an engaging tilt when the Nuggets and Thunder clash on Monday night.

“Did You Know?”

Nikola Jokic is the first player in NBA history to average a triple-double in the regular season and playoffs in the same post-season.

Pro Tip

Want to improve your own playoff performance? Take a page from the Nuggets’ book and remember the power of teamwork and collective effort. No single player can carry a team through thezeichnungen of the playoffs; it takes a concerted effort from the entire squad.