Lakers vs Nuggets Western Conference Finals

I am sure I speak for everyone when I say, wow! Since 2019 when Kawhi Leonard and Paul George made the decision they would be joining the Los Angeles (L.A.) Clippers, the match up every NBA fan has been playing their head was a battle for L.A.. Clippers versus Lakers, LeBron James versus Kawhi Leonard, who would ultimately beat the other and go on to the NBA finals? This western conference finals (WCF) match up felt higher anticipated than the finals for the championship. I think not only the fans, but the Clippers fell victim looking ahead.

While everyone was dreaming over the Lakers-Clippers WCF match-up, the only ones who seemed to be awake were the Denver Nuggets. The nuggets in the first round of the playoffs came back from down three to one against the Utah Jazz to win the series four to three. They did the exact same thing against the Clippers in the western conference semi-finals. Game seven of the Nuggets and Clippers series was a battle as expected. The Nuggets winning the battle is what was unexpected. 

The game started off even for the most part in the first quarter. In the late second quarter, the Clippers had taken a twelve point lead. Within a few minutes, the Nuggets had shaved that deficit down to two points. In the third quarter, Nuggets forward Jerami Grant knocked down a three pointer that finally put Denver up one, making the score 62-61. In the early moments of the fourth quarter, with the nuggets having possession and being up 8 points, it seemed they could do no wrong. On a deflected pass by Mason Plumlee of the Nuggets, the ball winds up in the hands of Murray who then is able to hit a turn around mid-range jumper to put the team up ten points. The Clippers, though being down on the scoreboard never seemed to find their stride. As said before maybe they had already guaranteed their victory and was in denial about a loss because a sense of urgency did not hit for the clippers until it was to late. You could also say it was the Nuggets good job of tightening down on defense not allowing any streaks of momentum to go in favor of the clippers. Denver maintained their 13 to 15 point lead closing out the game, winning 104-89.

Very surprising to see Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, arguably the best duo in the NBA, combine for only 24 points in a game like this. I guess they had to take a back seat to a duo that gets over looked much to often. The Nuggets offense was led through Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic. Murray’s most notable statistic of the night was scoring 40 points. Jokic earned a triple-double on the night with 22 rebounds, 13 assists, and 16 points. The Denver Nuggets did something that no one else in NBA history had ever done before, coming back down 3-1 in a series twice in a row. What is even more incredible is with that they had to fight all the outside voices already claiming a Lakers Clippers WCF match-up. We will see how much more heart the Nuggets have in them when the face the Lakers on Friday 9/17. Maybe we will see another shocker.