The Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers are going all the best way.
On Saturday evening the pair will duke it out in Denver for Sport 7 of what has been an exciting first spherical sequence.
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First Spherical Traditional
Los Angeles Clippers-Denver Nuggets (sequence tied 3-3)
Sport 1 – Los Angeles Clippers 110-112 Denver Nuggets (OT) – Nuggets lead 1-0
Sport 2 – Los Angeles Clippers 105-102 Denver Nuggets – Sequence tied 1-1
Sport 3 – Denver Nuggets 83-Los Angeles Clippers – Clippers lead 2-1
Sport 4 – Denver Nuggets 101-99 Los Angeles Clippers – Sequence tied 2-2
Sport 5 – Los Angeles Clippers 115-131 Denver Nuggets – Nuggets lead 3-2
Sport 6 – Denver Nuggets 105-111 Los Angeles Clippers – Sequence tied 3-3
Whereas the top-seeded Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder look on following a 4-0 sequence win over the Memphis Grizzlies that ended on April 26 – their potential opponents will nonetheless be battling it out every week later.
The Clippers received on Thursday evening to stage the sequence for a second time, having trailed the Nuggets 1-0 and 3-2 – whereas additionally they held a 2-1 lead in a see-saw contest for the ages.
The groups have been locked in an exciting playoff sequence earlier than – the 2020 Western Convention semifinals which sparked a devastating fallout in LA.
5 years in the past—within the NBA bubble in Orlando, Florida, because of the COVID-19 pandemic—the Clippers stormed to a 3-1 lead.
The franchise had entered the postseason with enormous championship expectations after a giant off season splash previous to that marketing campaign.
They acquired free agent Kawhi Leonard and had been on the heart of a blockbuster commerce with the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, exchanging Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a staggering 5 first-round draft picks for Paul George that was meant to shift the stability of energy out West.
So when the Clippers took a 12-point lead on the half of Sport 5 vs the Nuggets, they took an enormous step in direction of realizing their championship aspirations.
Nonetheless, the second half of that recreation — which the Clippers ended up dropping 111-105 –would mark the start of a shocking sequence collapse.
Sport 6 was a lot the identical story as Sport 5; the Clippers went up early, seemingly prepared to finish the sequence, solely to give up the lead and lose 111-98 to go to a Sport 7.
That win-or-go-home recreation noticed perennial playoff performer Jamal Murray stun with 40 factors because the Nuggets claimed a 104-89 victory, finishing a historic comeback by rallying from 3-1 all the way down to win 4-3.
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Sport 7 was significantly embarrassing for the Clippers. Denver had no enterprise forcing a decider, however stars like Leonard and George got here up quick when it mattered most.
Leonard completed with 14 factors on 6-of-22 taking pictures, whereas George had ten factors on 4-of-16 taking pictures.
Earlier than the pandemic, George had earned the ‘Playoff P’ nickname attributable to his robust playoff performances, significantly with the Pacers and OKC.
However he shortly grew to become the butt of on-line jokes attributable to his struggles contained in the NBA Bubble.
He had career-low playoff efficiency numbers, hit the backboard on a vital 3-point try, and earned the ironic moniker ‘Pandemic P’.
The Nuggets had apparently finished the unthinkable, but it surely wasn’t the primary time they’d turned issues round throughout that postseason.
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They overturned a 3-1 deficit within the first spherical towards the Utah Jazz.
It meant they grew to become simply the third workforce in US main sports activities to rally from a pair of 3-1 deficits in the identical playoffs, becoming a member of the 1985 Kansas Metropolis Royals and 2003 Minnesota Wild.
Nonetheless, the largest fallout from that gorgeous collapse was Clippers head coach Doc Rivers being fired.
Rivers has a 6-10 file in Sport 7s and has misplaced 5 consecutive Sport 7s from 2015-2023.
“Thanks Clipper Nation for permitting me to be your coach and for all of your help in serving to make this a profitable franchise,” Rivers stated on the time.
“After I took this job, my objectives had been to make this a profitable basketball program, a free agent vacation spot, and convey a championship to this group.
“Whereas I used to be capable of accomplish most of my objectives, I will not be capable of see all of them via.
“Although it was a disappointing ending to our season, you might be proper there and I do know what this workforce is able to conducting together with your help.”
Quick ahead to 2025, and George performs for the Philadelphia 76ers, and the Clippers are but to achieve the NBA Finals.
With Leonard and James Harden – the latter nonetheless chasing a primary ring – now main the Clippers, the burden of expectation continues to be excessive, with nothing lower than a championship being seen as a hit.
The Clips have saved themselves as soon as, however each groups now stand on the level of no return with a win or go dwelling showdown as soon as once more on the playing cards.
Buckle your seatbelts.