Kawhi Leonard scored 39 factors on 15-of-19 capturing and the Los Angeles Clippers evened their first-round playoff collection in opposition to the Nuggets with a 105-102 win in Denver on Monday night time.
Christian Braun was lengthy on a 3-pointer with 6 seconds left, and Nikola Jokic, who recorded his nineteenth profession playoff triple-double, grabbed the rebound but in addition missed a 3, with 1 second remaining.
The Clippers, who misplaced Sport 1 in time beyond regulation, haven’t misplaced back-to-back video games since March 2-4, a stretch of 23 video games, and so they handed David Adelman his first loss in 5 video games since changing Michael Malone in a shocking transfer on the eve of the playoffs.
Jokic, simply the third participant to common a triple-double over a season, had 26 factors, 12 rebounds and 10 assists and Jamal Murray added 23 factors for the Nuggets, who additionally obtained a bounce-back recreation from Michael Porter Jr. (15 factors and 15 rebounds) after his 3-point efficiency in Sport 1.
It wasn’t sufficient in opposition to Leonard, who had 21 factors on the break, together with a pull-up 3-pointer on the halftime buzzer that broke a 52-all tie.
Leonard additionally had a key steal of a Jokic go with 37 seconds remaining within the recreation, however Harden missed on the different finish and Braun grabbed the defensive rebound with 11 seconds left.
The Nuggets dedicated 20 turnovers — the identical quantity the Clippers had in Sport 1 — and missed eight free throws. “That was a killer,” Adelman stated.
Jokic had an uncharacteristic seven turnovers and missed 4 of 10 free throws.
Issues obtained chippy within the third quarter when Norman Powell obtained away with a push and Murray grabbed maintain of him. Official Tyler Ford shortly stepped between the 2, however Powell and teammate Kris Dunn have been whistled for technicals, as was Braun. As a result of two of the technicals have been on the Clippers, the Nuggets obtained a free throw and Murray sank the shot to drag Denver to 68-67.
The Clippers rolled into the playoffs because the league’s hottest workforce, profitable their final eight video games and 18 of their ultimate 21 earlier than dropping Sport 1 Saturday night time 112-110.
Clippers coach Tyronn Lue spoke earlier than tip-off about the necessity to choose up the tempo for Sport 2, however the Nuggets outscored L.A. 14-3 in fastbreak factors within the first quarter, simply two factors shy of their season common. But, they did not get anymore fastbreak factors the remainder of the sport and L.A. completed with 18 factors on the break.
The collection shifts to Los Angeles for Sport 3 Thursday night time.
Reporting by The Related Press.
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