Denver Nuggets and LA Clippers: A History of Playoff Drama
As the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers prepare to face off in the 2025 postseason, thoughts turn to their previous playoff encounter in the 2020 Western Conference semifinals. The series, which took place in the NBA Bubble in Orlando, Florida, was marked by a stunning collapse by the Clippers, who squandered a 3-1 lead to lose the series 4-3.
According to an article on Talksport.com, the Clippers had entered the postseason with huge championship expectations after a big off-season splash prior to that campaign. They acquired free agent Kawhi Leonard and were at the center of a blockbuster trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder, exchanging Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a staggering five first-round draft picks for Paul George.
The Clippers took a 12-point lead at the half of Game 5 vs the Nuggets, but the second half of that game marked the beginning of a stunning series collapse. Game 6 was much the same story as Game 5; the Clippers went up early, seemingly ready to end the series, only to surrender the lead and lose 111-98 to go to a Game 7.
That win-or-go-home game saw perennial playoff performer Jamal Murray stun with 40 points as the Nuggets claimed a 104-89 victory, completing a historic comeback by rallying from 3-1 down to win 4-3. As Talksport.com reported, Game 7 was particularly embarrassing for the Clippers, with stars like Leonard and George coming up short when it mattered most.
Leonard finished with 14 points on 6-of-22 shooting, while George had ten points on 4-of-16 shooting. George, who had earned the ‘Playoff P’ nickname due to his strong playoff performances, particularly with the Pacers and OKC, quickly became the butt of online jokes due to his struggles inside the NBA Bubble.
The Nuggets had apparently done the unthinkable, but it wasn’t the first time they had turned things around during that postseason. They overturned a 3-1 deficit in the first round against the Utah Jazz, becoming just the third team in US major sports to rally from a pair of 3-1 deficits in the same playoffs.
The biggest fallout from that stunning collapse was Clippers head coach Doc Rivers being fired. Rivers has a 6-10 record in Game 7s and lost five consecutive Game 7s from 2015-2023. As Talksport.com reported, Rivers said at the time, "Thank you Clipper Nation for allowing me to be your coach and for all your support in helping make this a winning franchise."
Fast forward to 2025 and George plays for the Philadelphia 76ers and the Clippers are yet to reach the NBA Finals. With Leonard and James Harden now leading the Clippers, the weight of expectation is still high, with nothing less than a championship being viewed as a success. But the Clips are on the brink of elimination and the Nuggets are once again looking to end their season. Denver are currently up 3-2 in the first-round series with Game 6 set for Thursday in Los Angeles.
The stage is set for another thrilling encounter between these two teams, with the Clippers looking to avoid another early playoff exit. As Talksport.com reported, the history between these two teams suggests that anything can happen. Will the Clippers be able to overcome their demons and progress to the next round, or will the Nuggets once again prove to be their kryptonite? Only time will tell.
