Nuggets erase another double-digit deficit to force Game 7 vs. Clippers
The Denver Nuggets once again erased a double-digit deficit in the second half and extended the Western Conference semifinals series to a Game 7 against the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Nuggets came back from 18 points down to defeat the Clippers, 111-98, in Game 6 from ESPN’s Wide World of Sports in Florida on Sunday. Game 7 is scheduled for Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET.
They are the first team in NBA history to play a Game 7 in four consecutive series and the first since play-by-play stat keeping began in 1997 with three 15-point comebacks when facing elimination in the playoffs, per ESPN Stats & Information.
Nikola Jokic scored a game-high 34 points for the Nuggets on 13-of-22 shooting. The team had its best shooting game of the series at 54.8 percent (40 of 73). They made 12 of their 25 3-pointers and outscored the Clippers, 64-35, in the second half.
Jokic came close to a triple-double with 14 rebounds and seven assists.
Jamal Murray added 21 points, five rebounds and five assists. He had the wind knocked out of him in the first half when he fell to the court on his back. Gary Harris chipped in 16 points, 4 assists and 4 steals.
The Nuggets held off a 33-point effort from Paul George, who shot 9 of 21 with 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 5 steals. Kawhi Leonard scored 15 points with 8 rebounds and 5 assists. The remaining three starters scored a combined 9 points. Ivica Zubac had a team-high 12 rebounds.
Nuggets bounce back in third quarter again
The Nuggets fought back from a deep hole again and went on a 17-0 run in the third quarter to come within a point, 73-72, with 3:29 on the clock. They trailed, 63-17, at the half.
Lou Williams broke the Clippers out of their slump with a 15-foot fadeaway a minute later to break the scoreless skid. It kept the Nuggets from taking their first lead since the early minutes of the game when it was 8-7.
It only took a few more minutes before the Nuggets took the lead back. Torrey Craig hit a 3-pointer from the right corner to go up, 82-79. It erased a 16-point deficit with 10:59 on the clock and the Nuggets held it, pushing it to their own double-digit lead.
The double-digit comeback was the third one of the postseason for the Nuggets. They erased a 15-point deficit in Game 5 of the first round and a 15-point deficit in Game 5 on Friday night. The Nuggets were on the brink of elimination in the first round, trailing the Utah Jazz by 3-1 in the series.
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