DENVER Nuggets overcame a slow start to maul Los Angeles Clippers, 120-101, in the do-or-die Game 7 of the NBA Western Conference first round series on Saturday night (Sunday in the Philippines) at the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado.
Aaron Gordon led the way with 22 points, five assists, and four rebounds, while Christian Braun added 21 markers, including three triples, as the Nuggets wrapped up the best-of-seven series at 4-3.
Nikola Jokic had a near triple-double of 16 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists, Jamal Murray and Russell Westbrook tallied 16 apiece, and Michael Porter Jr. contributed 15 points for the Nuggets.
Down 21-26 after the opening quarter, the Nuggets turned things around in the second quarter with conversions from Jokic, Gordon, and Braun for a 58-47 halftime lead.
The Nuggets widened the lead further in the second half with connections from Jokic, Porter, and Murray as the lead swelled to 103-68 on a fastbreak dunk by Westbrook.
Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers with 22 points, Kobe Brown added 13 markers, Derrick Jones Jr. and Bogdan Bogdanovic ended with 12 apiece, and Ivica Zubac had a double-double of 11 points and 14 rebounds.
Meanwhile, Houston Rockets stretched their NBA Western Conference first round series with Golden State Warriors to a winner-take-all Game 7 following a 115-107 Game 6 victory.
Fred VanVleet stepped up offensively with 29 points to go with eight assists and eight rebounds, while Alperen Sengun finished with a double-double of 21 points and 14 rebounds for the Rockets.
Steven Adams also made his presence felt off the bench with 17 points to go with three blocks and a steal, while Amen Thompson and Filipino-American guard Jalen Green had 14 and 12, respectively, as they tied the series at 3-3.
Stephen Curry paced the Warriors with 29 points, Jimmy Butler III chipped in 27 markers, while Moses Moody and Brandin Podziemski contributed 13 and 10 points, respectively./PN
BOX SCORE:
DENVER 120 — Gordon 22, Braun 21, Jokic 16, Murray 16, Westbrook 16, Porter 15, Watson 9, Strawther 3, Jordan 2, Pickett 0, Tyson 0, Nnaji 0.
LOS ANGELES 101 — Leonard 22, Brown 13, Jones 12, Bogdanovic 12, Zubac 10, Powell 9, Harden 7, Christie 5, Miller 4, Batum 3, Dunn 3, Eubanks 1.
Quarterscores: 21-26; 58-47; 93-66; 120-101.
