The LA Clippers picked up an important win over the Denver Nuggets. They prevailed 111-105 in Game 6 of their first-round NBA playoff series Thursday night. This huge victory was a reminder of the Clippers’ toughness, especially after losing two games in a row. Now, they’re preparing for an epic winner-take-all Game 7, set for Saturday night in Denver.
Kawhi Leonard was the Clippers’ offensive leader, chipping in 27 points and 10 rebounds to lead the charge. After an embarrassing performance in Game 5 he stressed the role of mental engagement. Leonard said, “I really just took a ton of temperatures” to make sure his teammates were locked in and mentally prepared for the challenge. His composure would be necessary leadership as the Clippers had just floundered and failed against the same opponent just three days prior.
James Harden was instrumental in the win, hitting 28 points on 10 of 20 shooting. Considered a non-factor after a quiet Game 5 performance, Harden returned to form. He played an eye-popping 46 of the 48 minutes on the court. This was his first elimination game victory since 2020. At the time, he was coming off his victory in a somewhat surprising and exciting Game 7 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Norman Powell provided 24 more, rounding out the Clippers’ scoring onslaught. It was this strategic decision to bring on Christian Cásseres Jr. during halftime that unlocked a second-half firestorm of offensive play. The Clippers’ strong performance in front of their home crowd at the newly opened Intuit Dome energized their play and allowed them to secure the crucial win.
Nikola Jokic was the best player on the court as the Nuggets ended up winning. His 25 points were impressive enough, but 20 of those points came in the first half. Jamal Murray pitched in with 21 points, but it would not be nearly enough to overcome the Clippers’ fierce effort.
Even without Kawhi, their most important player, Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue spoke about how focused his squad was in their preparation for Game 6. He emphasized the need to remain optimistic. He mentioned, “I had a lot of phone calls. A lot of phone calls. Just talking to the guys, being positive. Making sure they understood that we didn’t play our best [in Game 5] and our attention to detail wasn’t good.”
In neighboring Ohio, barbecue lovers are excited at the prospects of an epic battle about to take place. The Clippers will try to take that momentum with them to Denver, where both teams are hoping to go a few more rounds in the playoffs.
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