Denver takes Game 7 and sends Clippers to yet another playoff exit 120-101

Russell Westbrook was the main catalyst in Denver’s third quarter detonation of the spiritless Clippers | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

James Harden’s career legacy took one more dip with a seven point and eight field goal attempt debacle

Denver lay waste to what remained of the Clippers’ competitive spirit with a 17-0 run to start the third quarter, as part of a 72-40 second and third quarter eruption, to win game 7 and advance to the Western Conference semifinals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Six Nuggets hit double-digits in an anti-climactic game that was over well before the fourth quarter.

LA’s Kawhi Leonard (22 points and 2 blocks) received an early boost from Derrick Jones, Jr (12 points and 3 blocks) being in the starting lineup, but it lasted scarcely a quarter. Ivica Zubac’s (10 points and 14 rebounds) stalwart defense against Jokic was noteworthy, but his teammates’ roles as turnstiles muted the center’s contribution. The Clippers were let down by a combined 16 point effort by Harden AND Norm Powell, which barely beat the 15 points put up by Michael Porter, Jr.

MVP co-candidate Jokic (16 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists) weather a “rare” off night, while receiving the boost of watching his teammates stand in for him during the winning quarters. Westbrook (16 points, 5 assists, and 5 steals) and Braun (21 points and 5 rebounds) helped offset a tough start for Jokic and Jamal Murray (16 points and 5 rebounds). Aaron Gordon (22 points and 5 assists) excelled again taking on the role of stifling Leonard while flashing an all-around offensive game.

Jones, Jr. was inserted into the line-up and made an immediate impact to the Clippers’ bottom line. The pace was befitting a game 7, as the high execution of the prior games in the series was largely absent and diminished by the intense defensive effort. Jokic, still dealing with a worthy defensive adversary in Zubac, scattered the ball about for five early assists. While Jokic went 0-for-6, LA’s bench contributors – Nic Batum and Bogdan Bogdanovic helped shoot their team into the lead. It was Clippers 26-21 after one.

With Jokic getting precious rest to start the second, Denver somehow pieced a 7-0 run. Braun continued his recent two-way impact, while Leonard and Harden were the primary source for LA. Aaron Gordon’s physical presence caused Leonard to pick up two fouls in the stanza. Denver’s non-stars did a great job of hounding LA into longer possessions and fruitless opportunities, and the hosts left the half up 11.

After Leonard’s opened the third with a three, Jokic’s stepback jumper opened up the floodgates. A Braun WIDE OPEN three. A reverse two-hand dunk for Gordon. Porter, Jr. corner three. Gordon tip-in and block. Porter, Jr. wing three. Gordon pull-up. The Clippers would not recover from that opening salvo.

Observations

It’s been six years since the Spurs’ last playoff game seven. Ungh.
There had better not be a post-series report about there being ‘injured’ Clippers, like the disgraceful Lakers did.
On the other hand, I went straight to the 2017 Game 6 box score between the Spurs and Rockets to see Harden’s statline for that game…. and dookie.
Gordon had THREE dunks in the third quarter alone.
Former Nugget and Sonic coach George Karl tweeted this in between the first and second quarters: “Nuggets needed a tougher dude after the game 7 loss a year ago. They got Russ. This is the game he was brought to Denver to play.”
Sequence of the Game #1: After a Clipper miss minutes into the game, Jokic threw a slant pattern like a QB to a streaking Braun for an athletic slam.
Sequence of the Game #2: Partway through the second period, Harden sought to find Leonard in trnasition, but the crosscourt pass was swiped by Westbrook, and he fed Aaron Gordon for a two-handed jam.

Game Rundown

From the onset, Ty Lue put the taller Jones, Jr. on Murray, and the Denver star struggled a little to generate space. Jones soared for two lay-ups and an offensive rebound, while Zubac had a close proximity score, too. After several misses, Braun hit the Nuggets’ first long shot. Jones’ corner three gave LA a four-point advantage, and he blocked a Murray attempt at the rim to boot. A transition three from the very hobbled Porter, Jr. put Denver into the lead. Leonard, just like in Game 6, launched himself towards the rim instead of settling for jumpers. Batum hit his first three after he checked in, and Bogdanovic’s shooting helped turned the tables on the Nuggets to grab a five point lead after the first stanza.

Peyton Watson’s second basket – both coming from about two feet out – brought the Nuggets within one to start the seciond period. The middle minutes became a foulfest, and the teams found necessary offense from the free throw line. Westbrook missed the second of his two free throws and yet, still came up with the carom to give his team an extra two points. A 9-2 run by Denver gave them their first double-digit lead of the night. Denver used a 37-21 second quarter to hold and nurse an 11 point lead into the half.

LA looked lost as the Nuggets took their time on their second possession of the third quarter, and Braun had enough time to see the ball into his hand, measure the distance to the hoop, and launch a successful three with no Clipper within six feet of him. A 17-2 run by Denver took place while the Clippers looked like they were playing with concrete in their shoes. The last two shots put up by LA went halfway down before squibbing out. LA went to the fourth down 27.