After a thrilling series matchup filled with twists and turns, the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers descended on the Game 7 decider.
And it’s the NBA Championship Hunt to win to live for another day and continue that NBA Championship Hunt.
In a dominant way, the Nuggets shut down the Clippers’ NBA playoff window completely and pushed a 120-101 home victory to enter the final four of the Western Conference brackets.
Denver carried out a mass attack, overwhelming LA, with six players scoring over 15 points. Aaron Gordon led the price with 22 points, while Christian Brown was off at 21.
Nikola Zhokic spent a quiet, offensive night, finishing on 16 points and 10 boards, so it was Russell Westbrook who served as Mile High City’s Man of the Night.
His off-the-bench performance with 16 points, five boards, five assists and five steels served as the nugget’s X-factor for placing his claws on ffin for the Clippers season.
The Nuggets, who won the tough, shattered seven-game matchup, will soon be regrouping as they face the NBA-leading Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round.
The Clippers fought surprisingly well against the long nuggets of all the series. And it’s definitely a shame they couldn’t keep it up for the most important game.
Of this brutal game 7 collapse, James Harden has found himself a major subject of scrutiny, not just in Clippers fans, but also in the NBA world as a whole.
The lights in Game 7 looked too bright for him to handle, as he completely vanished when he needed him the most.
After a great Game 6 display to keep the season alive, Harden lays eggs and was unable to deliver to Los Angeles. In 35 minutes he finished with a terrible 7-point output.
He may have given plenty of looks for his teammates with 12 assists, but Harden’s 2-8 shooting attempt is the lowest of the Clippers’ starters.
With the lead in the lead, Kawi Leonard’s 22 points weren’t enough to carry the Clipper on his own.
So, his statement speaks volume when asked if he and Harden are significantly encouraged to continue what they have grown this season.
“I don’t know now,” Leonard said in a post-game interview. “I think we’re still playing at a high level in a way, but that’s a difficult question to answer right now.”
“I think we just did a good job during the season. Like you guys said, a lot of people counted us, but we managed to get here,” added Leonard. “Even so, getting here is never a goal.”
To be fair, Harden served as the driving force behind the Clippers’ statement season. If it wasn’t for him, LA might have proven their suspects wrong and failed to reach this stage of the 2024-25 campaign.
When Leonard missed the first part of the season, it was Harden who led the Clippers to remain in a race.
But as it stands, it’s just disappointing to see how the Clippers’ promising year unfolds as the hardening faded under completely pressure. The All-Star Guard was no show in Game 5 when they had the opportunity to put themselves forward in the series that tied Denver and 2-2.
Many think this will become the first team in the NBA for Leonard to play in the end.
However, since it was all on the line, Harden couldn’t stand up on the occasion.