NBA: Clippers power Game 7 with gritty win vs Nuggets

INGLEWOOD, California— James Harden had 28 issues and 8 assists in an excellent bounce-back efficiency, Kawhi Leonard added 27 issues and the Los Angeles Clippers pressured a 7th sport of their first-round NBA playoff collection with a 111-105 victory over the Denver Nuggets in Game 6 on Thursday evening.

Norman Powell scored 24 issues for the Clippers, who rebounded from back-to-back losses with an outstanding effort at new Intuit Dome. Los Angeles took regulate in the second one part whilst taking part in tenacious protection on Nikola Jokic, who scored 20 of his 25 issues within the first part.

READ: NBA: Jamal Murray fires 43 as Nuggets pass up 3-2 on Clippers

“I give our guys credit for just staying with it,” Clippers trainer Tyronn Lue stated. “(They) don’t get deflated, and we did a good job. … I told the guys after the game, it’s about being a team and whatever it takes to win. Those guys totally understood it.”

Game 7 is Saturday in Denver.

Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook, left, stocks some phrases with Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden after turning over the ball all the way through the second one part in Game 6 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff collection Thursday, May 1, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Jamal Murray scored 21 issues for the Nuggets, who misplaced a possible series-clinching playoff sport for the fourth time in 5 tries during the last two seasons since their 2023 championship run. Denver additionally blew a 3-2 collection lead over Minnesota in the second one around ultimate season.

The Nuggets haven’t gained a Game 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 collection

The Clippers had been driven to this comeback win via the 35-year-old Harden, who performed aggressively and craftily after receiving complaint for a passive effort in Game 5. Leonard additionally stepped up, with the two-time NBA champion including 10 rebounds and 5 assists in an assertive day out.

“It was win or go home, so there were opportunities to be aggressive, and I took them,” Harden stated. “One more game. … We didn’t want to go home. We’ve got one more game left.”

“These are the moments you live for.”

Clippers HC Ty Lue on forcing a Game 7 🍿🍿#NBAPlayoffs introduced via Google pic.twitter.com/2G7m5R5laY

— NBA (@NBA) May 2, 2025

Ivica Zubac and Nicolas Batum teamed up for an incredibly efficient defensive effort at the in most cases unguardable Jokic. The three-time MVP used to be held scoreless for 11 mins within the 3rd quarter and went handiest 2 for 9 in the second one part.

Los Angeles led via 15 with lower than six mins to play, however Denver made an 11-2 run to trim the Clippers’ result in 107-101 sooner than Powell buried a 3-pointer with 1:47 left.

Powell’s grasp bucket used to be Los Angeles’ handiest box purpose within the ultimate 5:57, however the Clips held on with protection. Russell Westbrook neglected a layup below force and had any other layup blocked on consecutive possessions within the ultimate mins, and Zubac blocked a layup strive via Jokic with 24 seconds left.

After falling right into a 2-1 collection hollow after which blowing a 22-point lead within the fourth quarter of Game 4, the Nuggets nonetheless gained at Intuit Dome 5 days in the past on Aaron Gordon’s unbelievable dunk on the buzzer. Denver rode that momentum to a comfy win in Game 5 with 43 issues from Murray.

After the Clippers folded down the stretch Tuesday, Lue took the uncommon step of checking in along with his avid gamers via telephone on their off day, pronouncing he “took a lot of temperatures” to verify they had been mentally in a position to struggle for his or her playoff lives.

The Clippers group that stormed into the playoffs with 8 directly wins and 18 in 21 spoke back Lue’s calls in Game 6.