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.
Nikola Jokic finished with 29 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds, Jamal Murray finished with 21 points, Westbrook 15, and Christian Braun’s 11 for Nuggets.
The game is in Denver 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 Braun was 59 seconds, but he replied deeply 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.
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.
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 with 4:19 and Westbrook’s output gave Denver his first leader since the first quarter.
Clippers returned to 94-93 and had the chance to extend the leadership, but Leonard is 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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