The Denver Nuggets made a statement on Saturday night at Ball Arena, dismantling the Los Angeles Clippers 120-101 in Game 7 of their first-round playoff series. With the victory, the defending NBA champions move on to face the top seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference semifinals.
Denver’s trademark resilience showed once again, as the team flipped a tightly contested series on its head with a wire-to-wire domination in the deciding game. The Nuggets took control early in the game and never looked back, thanks to an explosive second quarter performance in which they outscored the Clippers 37-21. By the middle of the third quarter, the lead blew up to 35 points, allowing starters to rest and the home crowd to erupt in pure celebration.
“We knew what was at stake,” said Nuggets head coach David Adelman. “We challenged our guys to play Nuggets basketball — unselfish, physical, smart and they delivered.”
Aaron Gordon led Denver’s scoring effort with 22 points, knocking down big shots and slashing to the rim with ease. Off the bench, Christian Braun had a breakout performance, adding 21 points and sparking the energy everytime he touched the floor. Two-time MVP Nikola Jokic nearly notched a triple-double with 16 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists, setting the tone with his calm decision-making and precise passing.
“It’s about winning,” said Jokic postgame. “I don’t care about stats. We move the ball, we trust each other — that’s how we win.”
Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. chipped in with 15 and 14 points, helping stretch the floor and frustrate a Clippers defense that looked overwhelmed.
On the defensive side, the Nuggets were pretty impressive. Their ability to rotate, clog passing lanes, and close out shooters kept the Clippers confused. Los Angeles just shot 43% from the field and committed 13 turnovers.
With this win in Game 7, the Nuggets now shift their focus to the Oklahoma City Thunder — a young, athletic team with noticeable players such as Shai Gilgeous Alexander and Chet Holmgren that finished atop the Western Conference during the regular season. The matchup promises to be a clash of experience versus rising talent.
For now though, Denver celebrates a well-earned victory and another step forward in their title defense.
