By Daniel Paiz

Nuggets dominate Game 7 with a complete team effort, winning 120-101 at home over the Los Angeles Clippers. All five Nuggets starters scored 15 or more points, and two bench players added some much-needed scoring. Aaron Gordon led Denver with 22 points, Christian Braun added 21 points, and Russell Westbrook chipped in 16 points, five assists, five rebounds, and five steals off the bench.

Nikola Jokic dealt with foul trouble in the second half but still managed 16 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists and three steals. Jamal Murray chipped in 16 points, Michael Porter Jr. scored 15 points and Peyton Watson added nine points.

Denver wins this series 4-3 and has punched their ticket to the second round of the NBA Playoffs. Monday night is Game 1 versus the Oklahoma City Thunder. Let’s savor this win though with highlighting some hustle plays.

Game 7 Recap

• Forcing Turnovers

Denver as a team forced numerous turnovers, including two that really highlighted this team’s focus. Early in the second quarter, Gordon misses a layup, Harden collects the rebound and tosses the outlet pass which is intercepted by Westbrook at the 8:11 mark. Westbrook shovels it over to Gordon who emphatically dunks it to give Denver a 31-28 lead with eight to go. This one stands out because LA at this point is trying to force things to start going their way. There’s been a momentum shift, and everyone in Ball Arena can feel it.

Just a few minutes later in the second quarter, the Nuggets miss a shot and LA rebounds it. At the 6:49 mark, Jokic’s quick hands intercepts the outlet, and he passes it to Braun. Braun misses the first shot but grabs the rebound and makes the second attempt. The Denver lead at the 6:43 mark is only 39-33, but here’s another moment reflecting priorities for each team. The Nuggets are zeroed in and focusing on what’s in front of them. Meanwhile the Clippers are trying to force things too quickly, overcompensating because the momentum shift feels heavier than it was at this point in the game.

• Offensive Firepower

While scoring and moving the ball was an issue in Game 6, that was not the case in the second and third quarters. Movements were calculated but consistent, and most importantly the effort was there. The playoffs are consistently about who puts in more effort. Denver kept shooting, they kept making second efforts to steal the ball, get defensive stops, and get rebounds.

There were times where it felt like LA was incapable of changing what they were doing. They were rattled from the Nuggets’ extra effort and Clippers coach Ty Lue didn’t seem to find the right rotation of guys to respond. LA’s best chance at a comeback was midway in the fourth quarter, when the bench guys were getting after it and cutting down a massive lead. Had Lue put some of those guys in earlier, it might’ve been a more competitive Game 7 ending.

Lessons from Game 7

For all the praise and accolades Denver’s offensive prowess gets, their defense won Game 7. Most of the fourth quarter notwithstanding, Denver was aggressive, had good off-ball rotational defense, and grabbed rebounds. They also created second chance scoring opportunities by creating turnovers. That consistent effort mixed with taking good shots created the massive deficit witnessed in the second half.

Nobody had to shoulder the weight of the game that long. What’s most impressive is Jokic getting into rare foul trouble with five fouls midway through the third hardly impacted Denver. That’s something new because before when Jokic was in trouble, so were the Nuggets.  

Keys to Round 2, Game 1 vs. OKC

Repeat everything done through the second and third quarters of Game 7. A chuckle or smirk might’ve just arisen from you, dear reader, but that statement isn’t hyperbole. The Thunder have what the Clippers proved to not possess: consistent production from both starters and bench players.

Their depth is a big key as to why they won how they did this year. Apparently, they dealt with a large number of injuries during the regular season. 68 wins later they struck down Memphis as if they weren’t another NBA team. Rallied down from a deficit similar to this Game 7 to snatch away a victory from the Grizzlies. Denver is most assuredly not Memphis, but OKC might think they’re similar.

It’s up to these guys from Game 7 to remind them otherwise.

Bonus Content

Episode 7 of Mile High Recap with Plumas Poetic follows below: