Nuggets outclass Clippers in Game 7 to set up series with Thunder
The Denver Nuggets advanced to the second round of the playoffs after routing the Los Angeles Clippers 120-101 in Saturday's Game 7.
The Nuggets set the tone with a 24-4 run to start the third quarter and extended their lead to as many as 35 points.
Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun led the way with 22 and 21 points, respectively, and all five Nuggets starters scored in double figures.
Russell Westbrook added 16 points, five assists, five rebounds, and five steals off the bench. He's the third player to ever record that statline off the bench in a postseason game and the first since Manu Ginobili in 2007, per Stathead.
"My ability to be a force of nature on the floor is what I pride myself on, so whatever that looks like," Westbrook told reporters postgame. "It may be turnover, it may be a missed shot, but it may be a steal, may be a dunk, may be a missed three, may be a made three - it's gonna be all of that."
Kawhi Leonard tallied 22 points, but his negative-33 in 33 minutes is the worst plus-minus of any game in his career, per ESPN's Zach Kram.
James Harden scored only seven points on 2-of-8 from the field. Harden didn't speak to the media postgame, according to Joey Linn of Sports Illustrated.
While Game 7 was out of hand for most of the second half, the aggregate point differential in the series was plus-4 for L.A.
Clippers bench boss Ty Lue lost a Game 7 for the first time in his head coaching career, snapping a 4-0 record in such contests.
Denver has reached the second round in six of the past seven seasons. The Clippers, meanwhile, haven't advanced beyond Round 1 since 2021, and this is their third straight opening-round exit.
Nikola Jokic and Co. will take on the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in Round 2. OKC hasn't played since April 26 after completing a four-game sweep of the Memphis Grizzlies.
Head coach David Adelman won't be allowed to linger on this series, as Game 1 between the Nuggets and OKC is scheduled for Monday at 9:30 p.m. ET.
"This was a memorable series. We just don't have time to remember it," Adelman said, per Ryan Blackburn of Mile High Sports.