Denver Nuggets vs Los Angeles Clippers

The Nuggets scraped by with a gritty win in the series opener, and another victory here would bring them halfway to sealing the deal.

The regular season saw plenty of thrilling battles between these two teams, and Saturday’s playoff kickoff didn’t disappoint, delivering the first taste of postseason overtime.

Denver, coached by David Adelman, started sluggishly, falling behind by as much as 15 points before mounting a comeback in the second half. Russell Westbrook’s clutch play gave them what seemed like a game-winning lead with just 25 seconds left, but James Harden’s quick response forced extra time.

In the five-minute overtime, the Nuggets refused to falter, with four of their five starters contributing points to secure a 112-100 victory for the 2023 NBA champs.

After such an intense effort, Denver will need to recharge quickly to face a Clippers team that had won 17 of their last 20 games before Saturday’s loss.

Nikola Jokic, as always, was the heart of the Nuggets’ effort, nearly achieving his 19th playoff triple-double with 29 points, nine rebounds, and 12 assists.

The reigning MVP will aim to deliver another masterclass performance on Tuesday as his squad pushes for a 2-0 series advantage—a historically decisive lead that has often spelled victory for teams that secure it.

Coming off a hard-fought season finale against the Golden State Warriors, the Clippers carried that momentum into their playoff opener against the Nuggets, exploding out of the gate with an aggressive start. However, despite their early dominance, they faltered down the stretch, unable to close out the game.

In a back-and-forth thriller featuring multiple lead changes, Tyronn Lue’s squad fell just short, leaving them frustrated but far from defeated. With the series still wide open, the stage is set for a high-stakes battle—one that could hinge on adjustments, clutch performances, and the MVP’s ability to rise to the occasion once again.

Will the Clippers bounce back and even the series, or will the Nuggets take a stranglehold on the matchup? The next chapter in this playoff showdown promises fireworks.