INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Facing the possibility of ending their season earlier than hoped, the Los Angeles Clippers’ coach, Tyronn Lue, reached out to his players individually on a rare off day to assess their readiness mentally. Lue’s efforts appeared to pay off when the Clippers delivered under pressure.
In a tense Game 6 of the first round of the NBA playoffs, James Harden stood out with a commendable performance, contributing 28 points and eight assists. Kawhi Leonard supported the effort with 27 points, helping the Clippers push their series against the Denver Nuggets to a deciding Game 7 after securing a 111-105 victory on Thursday night.
The Clippers were also fueled by Norman Powell, who netted 24 points, and the team showcased exceptional defense as they adapted their strategy at the newly built Intuit Dome. This impressive turnaround followed two consecutive losses, particularly focusing their defense on Nikola Jokic. Jokic managed to score 20 points in the first half but was notably contained in the second half.
“We persevered,” Lue commented. “Our guys stayed the course and didn’t deflate. I told them it’s about team effort and doing what it takes to win, and they got it.”
The thrilling series now heads to a do-or-die Game 7 on Saturday in Denver.
Jamal Murray contributed 21 points for the Nuggets, who missed an opportunity to close the series. This marks their fourth loss in such crucial situations in five attempts across two seasons since their championship win in 2023. Denver previously lost a 3-2 series advantage against Minnesota last season.
Denver’s Game 7 record hasn’t been encouraging since 2020, which was the year they eliminated the Clippers from the semifinals held in the Florida bubble.
“The Clippers were the aggressors,” Murray admitted. “They knew they had to win to keep their season alive, and they threw everything at us.”
The 35-year-old Harden was pivotal, responding to prior critiques of his performance with decisive play, whereas Leonard, a two-time NBA champion, confirmed his prowess by recording 10 rebounds and five assists.
“It was do-or-die,” Harden reflected. “I saw the opportunity and seized it. Now, with one more game ahead, we didn’t want our journey to end. One more shot remains.”
The Clippers’ defensive strategy notably included Ivica Zubac and Nicolas Batum working effectively against Jokic. They succeeded in holding the three-time MVP scoreless for part of the third quarter, limiting Jokic to a modest 2 for 9 from the field in the latter half.
With Los Angeles holding a 15-point lead with less than six minutes to play, Denver made a late push, narrowing the lead to 107-101, before Powell delivered a decisive three with 1:47 remaining. Despite not scoring a field goal during the last six minutes, the Clippers maintained the edge defensively. The game closed with key defensive stops by the Clippers, blocking attempts by Westbrook and Jokic in the closing moments.