DENVER Nuggets pulled off a 112-110 overtime escape against Los Angeles Clippers in Game 1 of the NBA Western Conference first round series on Saturday night (Sunday in the Philippines) at the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado.
Holding to a slim 105-104 lead, the Nuggets stretched the lead to 108-104 with a three-pointer from Christian Braun, but the Clippers cut it to 107-108 with a James Harden triple with 27 seconds left.
Following misses from the Clippers, the Nuggets increased their advantage to 112-107 on two free throws each from Aaron Gordon and Nikola Jokic before Clippers’ Norman Powell ended the game with a triple.
Jokic had a near triple-double of 29 points, 12 assists, and nine rebounds to go with three steals and a block, while Gordon contributed 25 markers as the Nuggets took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Jamal Murray chipped in 21 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists, while Russell Westbrook and Braun contributed 15 and 11 points, respectively, for the No. 4 ranked Denver.
Harden had 32 points, 11 assists, and six rebounds to lead the Clippers, Kawhi Leonard added 22 markers, while Ivica Zubac, Norman Powell, and Kris Dunn had 21, 12, and 10 points, respectively, for the No. 5 seed Clippers.
Meanwhile, Minnesota Timberwolves leaned on a massive second quarter rampage to stun Los Angeles Lakers, 117-95, in Game 1 of their Western Conference first round series at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
Jaden McDaniels led the Timberwolves with 25 points, Naz Reid added 23 markers, while Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle had 22 and 16, respectively, as they took a 1-0 lead in their best-of-seven series.
Luka Doncic top-scored for the Lakers with 37 points to go with eight rebounds, while LeBron James and Austin Reaves added 19 and 16 markers, respectively, in the defeat.
Over at the Eastern Conference, Indiana Pacers banked on a strong start to defeat Milwaukee Bucks in Game 1, 117-98. Paskam Siakam top-scored with 25 points, while Myles Turner added 19 markers.
New York Knicks turned things around in the fourth quarter to defeat Detroit Pistons, 123-112, in Game 1 of their first round series. Jalen Brunson top-scored for the Knicks with 34 points to go with eight assists./PN
BOX SCORE:
DENVER 112 — Jokic 29, Gordon 25, Murray 21, Westbrook 15, Braun 11, Watson 6, Porter 3, Pickett 2.
LOS ANGELES 110 — Harden 32, Leonard 22, Zubac 21, Powell 12, Dunn 10, Batum 9, Jones 4, Simmons 0, Bogdanovic 0.
Quarterscores: 27-35, 49-53, 72-75, 98-98, 112-110.
