Completing one of the most improbable comebacks in recent NBA playoff history, the Denver Nuggets have eliminated the Los Angeles Clippers after being down 3-1 in the best-of-seven series.
Denver defeated Los Angeles in Game 7 by a score of 104-89, earning themselves a spot in the Western Conference Finals where they will face LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and the Los Angeles Lakers.
The main storyline of Game 7 was that the Nuggets’ leaders showed up and led the team, while the Clippers stars didn’t. Denver’s top scorer Jamal Murray had 40 points and five assists while their star big man Nikola Jokic recorded a triple-double with 16 points, 22 rebounds, 13 assists, three blocks, and two steals.
For the Clippers, reigning Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard was almost invisible, scoring only 14 points. Paul George was even worse, shooting a dismal 4-16 from the field and 2-11 from behind the arc, scoring only 10 points.
Remember, the Clippers gave up five first-round picks to get George, who they believed would be the difference-maker in the playoffs, where the franchise has had a 50-year history of misery.
The Nuggets will kick off their series against the Lakers on Saturday. The last time these two teams met in the Western Conference finals was 2009.
