KEYPOINTS SUMMARY – Clippers Nuggets Game 7
- Clippers forced Game 7 with a narrow win but now must survive in Denver
- Nikola Jokic held scoreless for 11 minutes in Game 6 — can it happen again?
- Nuggets are 4-1 in last five Game 7s and will have home-court advantage
- Denver’s offense collapses without Jokic — a dangerous weakness
- LA defense stunned everyone in Game 6 but can they really do it again?
- History isn’t kind to the Clippers in Game 7s… especially against Denver
Clippers Nuggets Game 7: Will the Curse Strike Again?
It’s happening again — and LA fans are sweating bullets.
The Los Angeles Clippers clawed their way to a gutsy 111-105 win at home in Game 6, sending their first-round series against the Denver Nuggets to a Game 7 decider. But let’s be real: all eyes are now on Denver, where the air is thin, the crowd is loud, and Nikola Jokic is one game away from sending LA home again.
The Clippers may have delayed disaster — but did they just postpone the heartbreak?
Déjà Vu in the Rockies? Clippers Remember the Bubble Nightmare
For Clippers fans, Game 7 against Denver isn’t just a matchup — it’s a trigger.
Back in 2020, inside the infamous NBA bubble, the Clippers blew a 3-1 lead to the Nuggets in the conference semifinals. That collapse still haunts the franchise. Jamal Murray went nuclear, Jokic dominated, and LA folded.
Now, history is staring them down again.
Different season. Different coaches. And different rosters.
Same opponent. Same Game 7. And same nightmare waiting to happen?
The Ty Lue Gambit: Can It Work Twice?
To Coach Tyronn Lue’s credit, his Game 6 strategy worked. Barely.
He threw everything at Jokic — Ivica Zubac, Nicolas Batum, full-on double teams, physical play, and a swarm of defenders that held the three-time MVP scoreless for 11 full minutes in the third quarter.
It was defensive wizardry.
But can they really keep Jokic down again — in his own house, with the season on the line?
Doubt it.
Jokic Is Angry — and That’s a Problem
After Game 6, Jokic wasn’t just tired — he was mad.
He shot just 2-for-9 in the second half and was visibly frustrated by the lack of foul calls. The refs let the Clippers get physical, and Denver coach David Adelman was fuming.
“If that’s how they’re going to call it,” Adelman said, “we’ll play the same way.”
Translation?
Expect war in Game 7.
The Nuggets are planning to hit back — hard.
Jamal Murray Isn’t Worried — And That’s Even Scarier
While LA fans are pacing the floor, Jamal Murray is calm as ever.
“It’s 3-3,” Murray said. “Next team wins. That’s all that matters.”
He’s been here before. He thrives in elimination games, and the last time Denver faced a Game 7 in their own building, Murray exploded.
The Clippers are right to be concerned. Because this isn’t the moment where Murray usually chokes — it’s when he ignites.
Denver’s Home-Court Edge: Will It Be Too Much?
Coach Adelman made it clear: this was the plan all along.
“We earned this,” he told his players. “You play all season for home-court in Game 7.”
And now they’ve got it.
At Ball Arena, Denver’s home crowd is electric. The altitude is brutal. The Nuggets play faster, looser, and more aggressive. LA? They haven’t won back-to-back games in Denver in over two years.
Even worse — the Nuggets are 4-1 in their last five home Game 7s.
The odds? Not in the Clippers’ favor.
Jokic vs. the Bench: Can Denver Survive His Rest Minutes?
Here’s the hidden danger in Denver: when Jokic sits, the Nuggets crumble.
In their three losses this series, the Nuggets were minus-24 when Jokic was off the floor. That number was minus-7 in Game 6 alone.
Adelman knows it. LA knows it. Everyone knows it.
If the Clippers want to steal Game 7, they’ll need to dominate those non-Jokic minutes and hope their bench can hold steady while Kawhi Leonard and James Harden catch their breath.
It’s a risky formula — but it’s their only shot.
Clippers’ Game 6 Heroes: Can They Do It Again?
James Harden dropped 28 points and looked alive for the first time in weeks.
Kawhi Leonard delivered 27 points with his usual robotic efficiency.
Norman Powell added 24 off the bench and hit a dagger 3 with under two minutes left.
That trio carried LA.
But what if one of them goes cold?
We’ve seen this story before. Harden fades in elimination games. Kawhi’s health is always a question. And Powell? He’s hot and cold.
There’s no margin for error in Game 7.
Betting Line Drama: Vegas Believes in LA — But Should They?
BetMGM Sportsbook has the Clippers as 1.5-point favorites going into Game 7 — despite Denver’s 16-point Game 5 blowout at home.
Why?
Probably because of momentum. Probably because Harden and Kawhi looked sharp. But don’t let the odds fool you— Denver is a dangerous animal with its back to the wall.
This isn’t just another game. This is legacy time.
Victor Wembanyama Is Watching — So Is the League
With the Lakers eliminated and the Warriors out, all eyes are on who survives this West brawl. The Thunder are waiting in Round 2 — young, hungry, and ready to run.
For either the Clippers or Nuggets, surviving this Game 7 means entering Round 2 bruised, battered, and borderline exhausted.
And that gives OKC a golden opportunity.
Whoever wins Saturday night might not have much left in the tank.
Game 7 Details: Don’t Miss It
- Matchup: Clippers at Nuggets
- Date: Saturday
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- TV: TNT
- Series: Tied 3–3
- Betting Line: Clippers -1.5
Clear your schedule. This one will be chaos.
Are the Clippers Headed for Another Game 7 Disaster?
They did everything right in Game 6. They pushed. And they fought. They defended. And they earned a trip back to Denver.
But now comes the hard part. The altitude. The crowd. The three-time MVP looking for revenge.
Clippers Nuggets Game 7 is here, and LA’s season is hanging by a thread.
Will Harden show up again?
Can Kawhi stay healthy for 48 minutes?
Will Jokic go nuclear in front of his home crowd?
The Clippers survived once — but this next mountain might be too steep to climb.
