Russell Westbrook, whose late-game follies hung over the Denver Nuggets as they navigated the stunning dismissals of coach Michael Malone and GM Calvin Sales space on the eve of the playoffs, got here up clutch towards his former workforce in crunch time Saturday.
“That is who he’s,” Nikola Jokic stated after watching Westbrook hit an uncontested nook 3-pointer to offer Denver a two-point lead late in regulation after which knocking the inbounds cross away from — and off of — James Harden with 9.6 seconds left in additional time to assist seal Denver’s 112-110 win over the Los Angeles Clippers.
“I simply know that (inbounds) play,” from being there the earlier two seasons, Westbrook stated.
“My job is to be the low man and discover methods to, excuse my language, f— s— up,” Westbrook told reporters afterward.
Westbrook had a lot to do with L.A.’s whopping 20 turnovers, together with an uncharacteristic seven from Kawhi Leonard.
“Russ is Russ,” interim coach David Adelman stated after bettering to 4-0. “Defensively, he is completely unbelievable. He was taking part in free security on the market. I assumed lots of the explanation why the turnovers occurred, even when it wasn’t him forcing it, (was) simply the way in which he was roaming round and impacting the sport.
“After which offensively … he attacked,” Adelman stated. “We possibly might have pulled it out and executed. However that is what Russ does. I do not suppose he will change after 17 years. If he sees any individual in entrance of him 1-on-1, he will assault. After which he made an infinite 3.”
Jokic scored 29 points and completed one rebound shy of a triple-double. Aaron Gordon added 25, together with a pair of free throws with 12 seconds left, Jamal Murray had 21 because the Nuggets roared again from a 15-point first-half deficit to energy previous the most popular workforce getting into the playoffs.
The No. 5 seed Clippers’ loss was their first since March 30 at Cleveland. They rolled into the playoffs having gained 18 of 21, together with their final eight.
Harden led the Clippers with 32 factors. Leonard added 22 and Ivica Zubac had 21.
Leonard shrugged off the loss, saying the workforce’s temper was “nonetheless good. Simply Recreation 1. You recognize, Denver’s workforce, particularly at house. Nonetheless acquired Recreation 2.”
That is Monday night time at Ball Area.
Adelman stated the important thing to the late comeback was really when Denver closed the second quarter on a 13-2 run to tug to 53-49 at halftime.
“It felt like a type of video games the place you are simply slowly crawling uphill,” Adelman stated.
And Westbrook was main the way in which, developing huge regardless of lacking 12 of 17 photographs total.
“Lots of people put lots of emphasis on lacking so many photographs,” Westbrook stated. “However within the playoffs, all you must do is simply win the sport. I do not give a rattling about what number of photographs you miss, make. Simply make successful basketball performs defensively, offensively.”
And he did simply that.
In additional time, the Nuggets by no means trailed.
“Should you flip over 20 instances towards the workforce that’s No. 1 in offensive transition, then you definately’re gonna lose the sport,” lamented Clippers coach Tyronn Lue.
These groups final met within the playoffs in 2020 at Walt Disney World within the pandemic bubble, when the Nuggets overcame a 3-1 deficit to beat the Clippers.
Reporting by The Related Press.
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