The Denver Nuggets secured their place in the next round of the NBA playoffs with a commanding 120-101 victory over the LA Clippers in Game 7 on May 3rd. After a closely contested series, the defending champions pulled away to win the decisive game and claim the series 4-3.
Despite a slow start that saw them trailing 26-21 after the first quarter, the Nuggets dominated the middle periods, outscoring the Clippers 37-21 in the second quarter and 35-19 in the third to establish a comfortable lead they would not relinquish.
Aaron Gordon led Denver's balanced scoring attack with 22 points, while Christian Brown added 21 in a strong supporting role. The Nuggets' star duo of Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic contributed 16 points each, with Jokic narrowly missing a triple-double by adding 10 rebounds and 8 assists.
Russell Westbrook provided significant impact off the bench with 16 points and 5 steals, helping Denver maintain control throughout the second half.
According to Statbet analysis, teams winning Game 7 at home have historically advanced to the conference finals over 80% of the time, putting Denver in favorable position as they continue their title defense.
For the Clippers, Kawhi Leonard matched Gordon's 22 points to lead his team in scoring, while Ivica Zubac recorded a double-double with 10 points and 14 rebounds. James Harden struggled with his shooting but distributed 13 assists in the losing effort.
The Nuggets' victory marked the culmination of a hard-fought series that required all seven games to determine a winner, with Denver's superior execution in the crucial middle quarters of Game 7 ultimately providing the difference.
