Denver Nuggets Overcome Los Angeles Clippers in Thrilling Series
In a captivating conclusion to their first-round playoff series, the Denver Nuggets dismantled the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 7, highlighting the team’s resilience and skill. The Nuggets’ championship DNA, elite shotmaking, and stingy defense, which included an active zone, fast hands, and relentless physicality, ultimately proved too much for the Clippers to handle. According to The Ringer, "the way they won was weird," as Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray had poor, inefficient games by their standards, while the Clippers’ offense struggled, finishing 8-for-27 behind the arc.
The series, which went the full seven games, was marked by instant crunch-time classics, invincible individual performances, significant adjustments, and major comebacks. As noted by The Ringer, "there were several stretches where it looked like the Clippers were in the driver’s seat." However, the Nuggets’ ability to adapt and overcome adversity was key to their success. Aaron Gordon’s performance, particularly his work against Kawhi Leonard in the paint, was a decisive factor in the series.
The Clippers’ season, in which they overachieved for the first time since Kawhi Leonard joined the team, comes to an end. Despite their best efforts, they were ultimately outplayed by the Nuggets. James Harden, who had an aggressive Game 6, struggled in Game 7, making just two baskets and attempting only two free throws. As The Ringer observed, "Harden also missed a few makeable shots at the basket that immediately turned into fast-break opportunities for Denver—backbreaking sequences that L.A. couldn’t recover from."
In contrast, the Nuggets’ team effort, led by interim coach David Adelman, was nothing short of remarkable. Adelman’s impact on the team since taking over for Michael Malone and Calvin Booth was evident in their performance against the Clippers. According to The Ringer, "there would be no conference semifinals without how they played at the very end of the regular season, in must-win games to avoid a potential drop into the play-in tournament." The Nuggets now face the Oklahoma City Thunder, who swept the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round.
The Thunder, with their punishing defense and roster built to counter Jokic’s strengths, pose a significant challenge to the Nuggets. As The Ringer noted, "the Thunder signed Isaiah Hartenstein for a few reasons, but the most important is the heft he’s able to provide in this specific playoff matchup, allowing Chet Holmgren to roam off Gordon and not get pummeled in the post." The Nuggets will need a similar group effort to that displayed in Game 7 to overcome the Thunder.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder’s defense, which forces turnovers and protects the rim, will make life difficult for the Nuggets. The series promises to be an uphill battle for Denver, but their skill, cohesiveness, and resilience make them a formidable opponent. As Adelman said, "This is a memorable series… We just don’t really have time right now to remember it. Enjoy tonight. You know, have a glass of red wine or whatever you like doing. But we fly to OKC tomorrow."
The Nuggets’ ability to overcome their shortcomings and adapt to different situations was a key factor in their success against the Clippers. As The Ringer observed, "there’s a toughness about these Nuggets, as thin and flawed and almost universally dependent on Jokic as they might be." The team’s performance in the series against the Clippers has set them up well for the challenges ahead.
The Denver Nuggets’ next game is against the Oklahoma City Thunder, with Game 1 tipping off on Monday. The Nuggets will need to be at their best to overcome the Thunder’s defense and secure a spot in the conference finals.
Source: The Ringer – Denver’s shortcomings are obvious, but Game 7 showed it can overcome them. Now comes the greatest challenge of the Nikola Jokic era yet: the mighty Oklahoma City Thunder.
