The Denver Nuggets booked their ticket to the second round of the NBA Playoffs with a dominant 120-101 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 7 on Saturday night. The win sets up a highly anticipated matchup against the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder.
Denver overwhelmed LA with a balanced offensive attack and stifling defense. Aaron Gordon led the scoring with 22 points, Christian Braun added 21 off the bench, and reigning NBA MVP Nikola Jokic delivered a near triple-double — 16 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists.
Clippers Falter Despite Strong Start
The Clippers entered Game 7 with momentum after a commanding Game 6 win and an 18-3 run to close the regular season. They even held a 26-21 lead after the first quarter, suggesting another tight contest between two teams that finished with identical 50-32 records.
But that promise faded quickly. The Nuggets exploded for 37 points in the second quarter to take control and crushed LA’s hopes with a 17-0 run in the third, pushing the lead to 75-50. Denver entered the fourth quarter up 93-66 and never looked back.
James Harden struggled once again, scoring just seven points on 2-of-8 shooting. Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers with 22 points, but it wasn’t enough to stop the bleeding.
Nuggets Flex Their Muscle
The Nuggets led by as many as 35 points and dominated key statistical categories: they outscored the Clippers 54-42 in the paint and owned the glass with a 46-36 rebounding advantage, leading to a 22-10 edge in second-chance points.
Even with Jokic in foul trouble late in the third, the Nuggets held firm. Jamal Murray added 16 points, while Russell Westbrook came off the bench to post 16 points, five rebounds, five assists, and five steals against his former team.
Westbrook ignited the crowd in the fourth quarter with a steal and emphatic dunk, hanging on the rim long enough to earn a technical — a moment he used to fire up the home crowd even more.
What’s Next?
Despite a chaotic end to their regular season — including the dismissal of head coach Michael Malone and the promotion of David Adelman to interim coach — the Nuggets have powered through.
They now prepare for a second-round clash with the 68-win Thunder, led by fellow MVP finalist Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Game 1 tips off Monday.