Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden, left, celebrates as middle Ivica Zubac appears to be like on in the course of the second half in Recreation 6 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff sequence towards the Denver Nuggets, Thursday, Could 1, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Picture/Mark J. Terrill)
INGLEWOOD, California— James Harden had 28 factors and eight assists in an excellent bounce-back efficiency, Kawhi Leonard added 27 factors and the Los Angeles Clippers compelled a seventh recreation of their first-round NBA playoff sequence with a 111-105 victory over the Denver Nuggets in Recreation 6 on Thursday night time.
Norman Powell scored 24 factors for the Clippers, who rebounded from back-to-back losses with a powerful effort at new Intuit Dome. Los Angeles took management within the second half whereas taking part in tenacious protection on Nikola Jokic, who scored 20 of his 25 factors within the first half.
READ: NBA: Jamal Murray fires 43 as Nuggets go up 3-2 on Clippers
“I give our guys credit score for simply staying with it,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue mentioned. “(They) don’t get deflated, and we did a very good job. … I informed the fellows after the sport, it’s about being a group and no matter it takes to win. These guys completely understood it.”
Recreation 7 is Saturday in Denver.
Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook, left, shares some phrases with Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden after turning over the ball in the course of the second half in Recreation 6 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff sequence Thursday, Could 1, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Picture/Mark J. Terrill)
Jamal Murray scored 21 factors for the Nuggets, who misplaced a possible series-clinching playoff recreation for the fourth time in 5 tries over the previous two seasons since their 2023 championship run. Denver additionally blew a 3-2 sequence lead over Minnesota within the second spherical final season.
The Nuggets haven’t gained a Recreation 7 since 2020, after they ousted the Clippers from the convention semifinals within the Florida bubble.
READ: NBA: Nuggets stun Clippers on Aaron Gordon’s dunk, tie sequence
The Clippers have been pushed to this comeback win by the 35-year-old Harden, who performed aggressively and craftily after receiving criticism for a passive effort in Recreation 5. Leonard additionally stepped up, with the two-time NBA champion including 10 rebounds and 5 assists in an assertive outing.
“It was win or go residence, so there have been alternatives to be aggressive, and I took them,” Harden mentioned. “Another recreation. … We didn’t need to go residence. We’ve acquired yet one more recreation left.”
“These are the moments you reside for.”
Clippers HC Ty Lue on forcing a Recreation 7 🍿🍿#NBAPlayoffs offered by Google pic.twitter.com/2G7m5R5laY
— NBA (@NBA) Could 2, 2025
Ivica Zubac and Nicolas Batum teamed up for a surprisingly efficient defensive effort on the sometimes unguardable Jokic. The three-time MVP was held scoreless for 11 minutes within the third quarter and went solely 2 for 9 within the second half.
Los Angeles led by 15 with lower than six minutes to play, however Denver made an 11-2 run to trim the Clippers’ result in 107-101 earlier than Powell buried a 3-pointer with 1:47 left.
Powell’s clutch bucket was Los Angeles’ solely discipline purpose within the closing 5:57, however the Clips held on with protection. Russell Westbrook missed a layup below stress and had one other layup blocked on consecutive possessions within the closing minutes, and Zubac blocked a layup try by Jokic with 24 seconds left.
After falling right into a 2-1 sequence gap after which blowing a 22-point lead within the fourth quarter of Recreation 4, the Nuggets nonetheless gained at Intuit Dome 5 days in the past on Aaron Gordon’s unimaginable dunk on the buzzer. Denver rode that momentum to a snug win in Recreation 5 with 43 factors from Murray.
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After the Clippers folded down the stretch Tuesday, Lue took the uncommon step of checking in along with his gamers by telephone on their off day, saying he “took quite a lot of temperatures” to ensure they have been mentally able to struggle for his or her playoff lives.
The Clippers group that stormed into the playoffs with eight straight wins and 18 in 21 answered Lue’s calls in Recreation 6.
