The Los Angeles Clippers will be aiming to keep their playoff journey alive when they welcome the Denver Nuggets to Intuit Dome on Friday in Game Six of the sides’ first-round duel.
Having claimed a huge 131-115 triumph in Wednesday’s Game Five, the Nuggets will head to Los Angeles seeking to close out the series with a win here
Off the back of one of the most agonising defeats in NBA playoff history, the Los Angeles Clippers headed to the Ball Arena aiming to regain their advantage in the series with the tie level after four matches.
Tyronn Lue’s men were slow to get out of the blocks at the beginning of both halves and were duly punished as they headed into the final quarter with a 16-point deficit to make up, which proved to be an unassailable task.
Impressive scoring displays from Ivica Zubac (27) and Kawhi Leonard (20) were ultimately to no avail as Norman Powell and James Harden endured rough nights, combining for 23 points on 8-21 shooting from the field.
Despite being one of the top three teams for three-point shooting percentage in the playoffs so far, the Clippers were outscored 17-11 from beyond the arc after a +11 differential from deep across the opening four matches.
Staring down the barrel of elimination, Friday’s hosts will need to produce a huge performance in front of their fans to avoid a first-round exit for the third year running off the back of defeats against the Phoenix Suns and the Dallas Mavericks.
From facing the prospect of going 3-1 down, the Nuggets have responded with consecutive wins to take control of their postseason destiny and move within one victory of making it through to the next round.
While David Adelman’s men needed a late game winner from Aaron Gordon to come out on top in Game Four, they got the job done more comfortably this time around, having led for all but 33 seconds of the 48 minutes of action.
Nikola Jokic recorded yet another triple-double with 13 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists, but it was Jamal Murray who was the star of the show as he tallied 43 points, including 13 in the final 12 minutes to stave off any attempt of a Clippers fightback.
Delivering a perfect response to his pedestrian 13-point outing in last Saturday’s Game Four, Murray has consequently broken his tie with Jokic to stand alone as the sole leader of 40-point playoff matches in Nuggets history.
With a well-rested Oklahoma City Thunder waiting in the Western Conference semi-finals after their emphatic 4-0 sweep of the Memphis Grizzlies, Friday’s visitors will be keen to wrap things up as early as possible and avoid the added physical burden of a Game Seven.
Los Angeles Clippers NBA Playoffs form:
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W
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Denver Nuggets NBA Playoffs form:
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Nikola Jokic recorded his 21st triple-double of the postseason in Wednesday’s win, moving him 12 clear of Wilt Chamberlain at the top of all-time playoff triple-doubles by a center.
Returning to action after sitting out his side’s previous outing with a foot problem, 36-year-old Russell Westbrook came up clutch with 20 points off the bench last time out.
James Harden has not been up to his standards over the last two matches and will need to turn on the style here if the Clippers are to have a decent shot at emerging victorious.
Australia international Patty Mills remains a major doubt for the hosts having had his playoff campaign disrupted by an illness, with the guard featuring just once so far.
Los Angeles Clippers possible starting five:
Harden, Dunn; Powell, Leonard; Zubac
Denver Nuggets possible starting five:
Murray, Braun; Porter Jr, Gordon; Jokic
The onus is more on the Los Angeles Clippers here, as only a win would save their season, and consequently, we can see the home side rising up to the occasion by claiming a crucial victory
