NBA Playoffs: Nuggets CAP Ex -series with match 7 Blowout on Clippers, configure the confrontation with OKC, Matchup of MVP Finalists

DENVER – In an attrition series, Denver Nuggets have categorically survived.

The Nuggets opened an 11-point lead at half-time on the Los Angeles clippers on Saturday, then ran to A victory of 120-101 match 7 To advance the first round. The eruption breaks an exhausting competitive series that has switched back and back.

In the end, the Nuggets had more gas in the tank and will move forward to face the Oklahoma City Thunder in the semi-finals of the West Conference. The series will present a confrontation of the MVP Nikola Jokić and Shai Gilgeous-Aalexander finalists.

'There is a point of exhaustion'

The clippers looked like the cooler team at the start on the way to an advance of 26-21 in the first quarter because neither Jokić nor Jamal Murray managed to make a basket. But the Nuggets resisted early racing and closed half-time with a second quarter of 37-21 which finally turned out to be the blow to direct elimination.

There was no overvoltage in the second half of a Clippers team who took control of a victory for match 6 thanks to half-time adjustments and a 10-point advantage in the third quarter. Back home in the altitude of Denver, the Nuggets maintained the gas after half-time and did not allow a clippers gathering to settle.

“We played a lot of these matches,” said Adelman before the match. “You must understand, there is a point of exhaustion in these games, in particular with the quick turnaround to play later in Los Angeles and to return here and play a match a little earlier, playing seven games in total.

“When there are stockings in the games, it is then that everyone must be closest, continue each other. You have to find energy from each other.”

Nikola Jokić and the Denver Nuggets had no problem passing the Los Angeles Clippers in match 7 of their first round series. (Images of Ron Chenoy-Imagn)

(Imagn Images via Reuters Connect / Reuters)

The nuggets thrive despite the slow departures of Jokić, Murray

The Nuggets resisted a period of drop in their two most important players. At the start of the second quarter, Jokić and Murray were a 0 combined for 9 on the ground. However, the Nuggets held an advance of 31-28, supported by a strong departure from Christian Braun and a defensive effort that the Clippers had trouble countering.

Jokić finally found the basket during his sixth match attempt at the match, a 3-point pointer that gave Denver an advantage of 34-30. The first Murray basket did not reach a lay-up with 3:39 to do in the quarter extended the Denver's advance at 48-43. Once the two found their foot, the mowers were exceeded.

Denver entered the half-time with an advance of 58-47, and the clippers head coach, Tyronn Lue, opened the third quarter with the same second half adjustment as in match 6-putting Nicolas Batum in the starting formation of the third quarter. But the versatility of the veteran on both sides of the ball did not help on Saturday evening.

Each Nugget Starter has scored more than 15 points, led by Aaron Gordon 22. Braun finished with 21 while pulling 8 out of 15 on the field and 3 out of 5 of Deep. Russell Westbrook completed the points of the bench and again made the mowers for having left it open while pulling 5 out of 9 on the field and 2 out of 4 of Deep.

After the match, Adelman mentioned Braun, Murray and Gordon while crediting the team's effort to optimize the minutes when Jokić was on the bench.

“Part of the shot from Jamal who is making contact and AG tonight, which he made the basket attacked,” said Adelman. “This allowed us to sit for Nikola longer. And then we won these stanzas. And if you do this and bring 15, it's a huge business.”

Nuggets exorcises the demons of Timberwolves collapse

A Nuggets 7-3 race to start the third trimester caused a quick time of LUE. A Michael Porter Jr. 3 points less than three minutes after the start of the quarter extended the race at 15-3 and the advance of the nuggets at 73-50.

A crowd of Denver who saw the Nuggets blow a 15-point lead at half-time in a defeat of the 7-minnesota Timberwolves last season. There would be no collapse in the second half this time and no sudden and shocking release of the playoffs.

Braun spoke after the match of what it meant to play such a big role in a victory for match 7.

“That's exactly what we wanted,” said Braun.

“I felt like I wanted to be part of it. I wanted to be more. I just thought that in this game, I feel like I was playing well and I wanted to play more minutes. Everyone wanted it. Everyone in the League wants it, and I had that.”

Can actors in the role of nuggets continue?

As they have done in several games in this series, the Nuggets won without a big Jokić match – according to its MVP standards, at least. Murray was also relatively moderate. Instead, it was a team effort from a Nuggets range that was tracked down with questions about whether it is strong enough around Jokić to compete at the highest level.

“In the playoffs, we know that everyone must intensify,” said Jokić. “Offensively, defensively, in terms of energy.

Jokić finished with 16 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists and three interceptions. Murray finished with 16 points and five rebounds.

Christian Braun intensifies, gives adjustments of James Harden

On Saturday, Braun established the early pace, he was also loaded again as the main defender of James Harden. Harden finished with a seven point series while pulling 2 out of 8 on the field. When the match was over, Harden did not speak with the media.

“It's AG and him,” said Jokić about Braun's defense on Harden. “They wanted to do this. They wanted to come. We are right there and help them possible.

“He is aggressive. He is boring. And he knows what to do. He accepts the role because he is a winner.”

Then, for the Nuggets and the NBA is a match that will make the headlines salivate. They will often not be facing on the ground on the field, but the debate on the MVP application between Jokić and Gilgeous-Alexander was one of the hottest in the NBA season.

The votes concern the actual price, which will be announced later in the playoffs. But in the eyes of many fans, the debate will be settled on the field in the second round.

But the real price of the series, of course, will be a ticket for the Western Conference final. And this is where Adelman's mind was as soon as the match on Saturday was finished.

“It feels good, but I also know that we are flying for OKC tomorrow,” said Adelman. “It was not the championship. I am sure it looked like fans on both sides because the series was so crazy and the ups and the stockings were so crazy. This is one of those series which you do not forget that you were part.”

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