Aaron Gordon had more than 25 points, Russell Westbrook made a major defense game in the last seconds, and the host Denver Nuggets walked to defeat the Los Angeles Clippers 112-110 in the first round of the first round of playoff series on Saturday.
“Russ Russ,” Interim Nuggets head coach David Adelman. “Defensively, it was absolutely incredible.”
Nikola Jokic finished with 29 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds, Jamal Murray finished with 21 points, Westbrook 15, and Christian Braun was 11 for Nuggets hosting 2 games on Monday night.
Nuggets was left behind 2:24 more than 2:24, but James was cut to 105-104 on a surface on the Harden lane. Jokic fed Braun for 3 signs 59 seconds before, but he responded deeply to 27 seconds before the hard.
Gordon made two free throws 10.9 seconds before and Westbrook passed through Harden. Jokic made two free throws 6.5 seconds to seal.
“To be honest, you have to find ways to win ugly,” Gordon said. “And I think we did that.”
He directed Harden Los Angeles with 32 points and made 11 assists, Ivica Zubac finished with 21 points and 13 rebounds, Kawhi Leonard 22, Norman Powell 12, Kris Dunn 11.
Clippers coach Tyronn Lue, “We are not happy because we went to overtime.” He said. “They are a good team and we are a good team. We just need to do what we need to do. Interest in basketball, keep them away from the glass and we will be good. If you return to the number 1 team in the aggressive transition 20 times, then you will lose the game.”
After watching most of the game, Denver tied Murray’s fourth place at 7:31, 3-Officers to 81-All, but Los Angeles 87-81 took the lead.
Murray and Gordon hit 3 points to cut to 92-91 when he was left behind, and then Westbrook’s output took the first lead to Denver since the first quarter.
Clippers returned to the front 94-93 and had the chance to extend the leadership, but Leonard was 33 seconds.
Westbrook left 24 seconds to make 98-96, 18 seconds left, and the Nuggets could not make a shot before the end of the quarter.
Clippers lasted until 15 in the second quarter, but Denver closed the gap in the last 5: 11 to follow 53-49. Nuggets closed to the fourth place in 75-72.
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