It was all on the line for the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers tonight. One team showed up, and the other didn’t, as the Nuggets rolled to a 120-101 victory.
As usual, Nikola Jokic ($13,600, 48 FPTS) dictated the tone for the Nuggets. His 16/10/8 line was a bit nerfed due to the Nuggets blowing the Clippers out of the water in the third quarter. Denver also got big performances out of Aaron Gordon ($7,400, 38 FPTS), Christian Braun ($6,800, 36.75 FPTS), and Russell Westbrook ($5,600, 39.75 FPTS). Six Nuggets players scored 15 or more points in an all-around team effort to advance.
For the Clippers, things got dire. Kawhi Leonard ($10,200, 35.75 FPTS) had another 20-point outing, a feat he accomplished in all seven games. Ivica Zubac ($9,200, 32.5 FPTS) recorded yet another double-double and defensively set the tone on Nikola Jokic. Unfortunately, the Clippers needed more from James Harden ($10,800, 38.25 FPTS), who recorded just seven points on 2-of-8 shooting. It’s going to be an offseason of soul-searching for the Clippers
The Nuggets will face the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Semifinals. Game 1 will be in Oklahoma City on Monday, May 5th, and the Thunder open as nine-point favorites with the over/under at 224.5.
