Clippers lose Game 1 to Nuggets in overtime | College News

DENVER — The Clippers dropped a 112-110 overtime recreation to the Denver Nuggets on Saturday at Ball Arena to open the playoffs.

They are down 1-0 in the best-of-seven sequence as a result of Russell Westbrook was as a menace towards his former group and provided the Nuggets with the vitality and massive performs they needed to get the win.

Westbrook’s final huge play was knocking the ball off of James Harden’s hand with 9.6 seconds left in the overtime.

Nikola Jokic made two free throws for a 112-107 lead with 6.5 seconds remaining that sealed the victory.

We’re in good condition,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue mentioned. (*1*)

Jokic completed with 29 factors, 12 assists and 9 rebounds.

Harden led the Clippers with 32 factors and 11 assists.

Westbrook had 15 factors, together with two huge threes, and eight rebounds and two steals.

The Clippers turned the ball over 20 instances.

Jokic not solely picked up his fourth foul by getting a double-foul with Ben Simmons in the fourth, he was additionally hit with a technical foul with 6:41 left.

Jokic felt he was struck in the face by Derrick Jones Jr., knocking him to the court docket. But no foul was known as, drawing the ire of Jokic towards an official who issued the technical foul in a recreation that was getting tense and tighter because it went alongside.

Then with 1:27 left and the Nuggets main by one, Jokic obtained an offensive rebound and was fouled however he missed each free throws, leaving the Clippers down 95-94.

The Clippers took benefit when Ivica Zubac scored on a goaltending call on Aaron Gordon, giving the Clippers a 96-95 lead with 1:11 left.

But the Clippers turned the ball over after Kawhi Leonard had it bounce off his hip with 33.5 seconds left and the Clippers nonetheless up by one.

The Nuggets known as a timeout to call an important play after the Clippers’ problem was unsuccessful.

Jokic, unafraid to make the best move, and Westbrook, unafraid to take the large shot, mixed to make the play. Jokic hit Westbrook in the nook for a three-pointer and a 98-96 Nuggets lead with 23.4 seconds left.

But Harden drove inside for a floater to tie the rating at 98-98 with 18.7 seconds left.

That left the ball in Denver’s fingers for the ultimate shot.

But the Clippers performed great protection and finally Westbrook supposed to put up the ball however couldn’t get off a shot, sending the sport into OT tied 98-98.

Harden picked up his fourth foul with 9 minutes and 10 seconds left in the third quarter, however performed all 12 minutes in the quarter. Harden didn’t decide up one other one earlier than it was over.

Along the best way in this recreation, Harden established himself as one of the NBA’s playoff greats.

He has scored (3,796) profession factors in the postseason, pushing him previous John Havlicek for sole possession of 14th place on the NBA’s all-time playoff factors checklist. Harden has (1,072) assists in the postseason, pushing him previous Larry Bird for sole possession of eighth place on the all-time playoff assists checklist.

When Harden picked up his second foul with 4:55 left in the primary quarter, the Clippers had a resolution to make. They left him in the sport and he instantly attacked with three consecutive drives to the basket — one turning into a three-point play — ensuing in an early 12-point lead for the Clippers.

Harden didn’t waver in his play, staying aggressive the remaining of the best way in taking part in all 12 minutes in the primary, ending it off with a three-pointer on the buzzer that gave him 15 factors on six-for-11 capturing.

Harden’s play appeared to ignite the Clippers, as they constructed a 15-point lead in the second quarter.

But the Clippers obtained sloppy with the basketball because the quarter continued, turning it over eight instances in the second, main to the Nuggets trimming L.A.’s lead to 53-49 on the half.

By the tip of the third quarter, the sport was nonetheless close.

But the Clippers nonetheless had the lead at 75-72.