Game 7s are supposed to be tense, tightly wound thrillers. This one? Not so much.

The Nuggets came out like a team that remembered exactly how last year’s Game 7 heartbreak felt — and weren’t about to let history repeat itself. They outplayed, out-hustled, and out-everything’d the Clippers in a 120–101 beatdown that didn’t feel nearly that close by the end. What was supposed to be the final chapter of a nail-biter series turned into a mile-high beatdown, and the Nuggets didn’t just advance—they sent a message.

Welcome to playoff hoops, Mile‑High style.

This was redemption wrapped in blue and gold. One year removed from coughing up a 20‑point Game 7 lead against Minnesota, Denver flipped the script. The Nuggets made sure there was nothing left for the Clippers to hang onto — not a run, not a rally, not even a sliver of hope.

Denver’s reward for handling the Clippers is a date with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and one of the most complete young teams in the league. It’s Jokic vs. SGA, and if you’re a fan of smart, high-level basketball, you’re in for a treat.

A Series That Refused to Breathe

Before Saturday’s blowout, this matchup was everything the 4‑vs‑5 line is supposed to be: long nights, wild swings, and the constant thrum of “who blinks first?”

Game 1 (DEN 112, LAC 110, OT)

Denver wiped away a 15‑point deficit behind Jokic’s near triple‑double and Jamal Murray’s I‑guess‑that‑calf‑is‑fine dagger in overtime. Russell Westbrook’s tying three sent the thing to OT; his late turnover helped send it back into Denver's hands.

Game 2 (LAC 105, DEN 102)

Kawhi Leonard came out in Game 2 looking like peak Kawhi, torching Denver with 39 points on an absurd 15-of-19 from the field. It was one of those games where every midrange jumper looked automatic, and the Nuggets simply didn’t have an answer. With that win, the Clippers snatched home-court advantage, and suddenly Denver had to find a way to steal one in LA just to stay on track.

Game 3 (LAC 117, DEN 83)

That first LA home game felt like a full-on statement from the Clippers. They came out firing and didn’t stop. The shots were falling early and often — 18 made threes by the time it was over — and their 23–2 run across the first and second quarters blew the game wide open. It wasn’t just hot shooting either. The Clippers were flying around defensively, forcing turnovers, and completely dictating the pace. Meanwhile, Denver looked shell-shocked. Jokic couldn’t get into a rhythm and was held to single digits in a playoff half for the first time in years. The Nuggets just didn’t have it, and LA made sure they paid for it. For a moment, it really looked like the tide had turned.

Game 4 (DEN 101, LAC 99)

Gordon had already been active on both ends, but it was his presence around the rim that ultimately saved the game. The Nuggets had blown a 22-point fourth-quarter lead and looked like they were headed for a brutal collapse, but in the final seconds, Jokic’s miss bounced high off the rim and Gordon came flying in for the game-winning putback dunk at the buzzer. The play itself was wild, but what made it even more meaningful was how it saved Denver from what could’ve been an all-time meltdown. It wasn’t pretty, but the Nuggets fought to tie the series, 2–2.

Game 5 (DEN 131, LAC 115)

Jamal Murray looked every bit like the guy who’s built for playoff moments, dropping 43 points in Game 5 and reminding everyone why he’s such a nightmare to guard when he’s in rhythm. Adding to that surge, Russell Westbrook gave Denver a huge boost off the bench, pouring in 16 points in just nine first-half minutes. His energy was contagious, flying around on both ends and putting real pressure on the Clippers’ second unit. And maybe the most surprising part of the night was that Denver held steady during the non-Jokic minutes. It was the kind of full-squad effort the Nuggets have been searching for, and it couldn’t have come at a better time.

Game 6 (LAC 111, DEN 105)

James Harden finally had the kind of game the Clippers were hoping for when they brought him in — 28 points, eight assists, and six rebounds, playing with pace and confidence that had been missing. Kawhi Leonard chipped in with his usual calm efficiency, scoring 27 points while barely breaking a sweat. It felt like everything was finally clicking for the Clippers in Game 6, and they looked like the more polished, composed team from start to finish.

After six games, the series couldn’t have been more evenly matched. LA actually held a slight edge in total scoring across the six contests. At that point, it really did feel like Game 7 could go either way.

Saturday Night Special — When the Dam Broke

A First Quarter Tease

The opening twelve minutes teased even more drama. Denver led 27‑23, and Jokic couldn’t buy a bucket (0‑for‑6). But the Joker dished six first‑quarter assists, using LA’s double‑teams like a GPS signal. You knew the scoring would come; the passing was keeping them afloat until then.

The 24‑Minute Avalanche

Then the second and third quarters happened — an avalanche the Clippers never crawled out of. Denver outscored LA 72‑40 across that stretch, including a back‑breaking 35‑19 third quarter punctuated by a 17‑0 run. The Nuggets led by 27 before anyone on the coaching staff could process what hit them. Six Nuggets eventually scored over 15 points, the kind of across-the-board scoring night that probably made interim coach David Adelman beam when watching the film.

• Aaron Gordon: 22 points on rim‑rattling drives and transition sprints.

• Christian Braun: 21 points, career playoff high, plus the kind of smart, well-timed cuts through the middle that make teammates trust you more.

• Jokic: 16‑10‑8 on an off night — and that’s the scariest part.

• Jamal Murray: 16 points, certainly quieter but perfectly calibrated.

• Russell Westbrook: 16‑5‑5‑5 in 24 manic minutes versus his old squad, complete with a tech for hanging on the rim after a third‑quarter dunk that doubled as a victory lap.

• Michael Porter Jr.: 15 points, five boards, zero hesitation.

Clippers’ Counterpunch Never Landed

Kawhi Leonard poured in 22 quiet points, but LA’s offense went deaf when Harden pulled his usual playoff disappearing act — seven points on eight shots, 13 assists that felt cosmetic in the blow‑by. Ty Lue tried lineup roulette — Derrick Jones Jr. started, Nicolas Batum saw some minutes — but 4‑for‑15 from deep won’t cut it in 2025.

Why Denver Rolled: Three Pillars of a Blowout

1. Pace Without Panic

Denver usually plays at a pretty Jokic-like pace — slow, deliberate, and content to grind you down in the halfcourt. But in Game 7, they picked their spots and turned it up just enough to catch the Clippers flat-footed. They ended up outscoring LA 18–5 in transition, which isn’t typical for this team. You could tell they sensed the Clippers were starting to wear down, and rather than letting them off the hook, they went right at them. 

2. Winning the Non‑Jokic Minutes

The Nuggets posted a +8 in the 10:42 Nikola rested, largely because Westbrook detonated plus Christian Braun morphed into Aaron Gordon 2.0. When your biggest weakness flips into a net positive, games tilt fast.

3. Defensive Versatility and Hands Everywhere

Braun, Gordon, and MPJ were locked in on defense from the jump. They communicated well, switched pretty much everything, and forced the Clippers into uncomfortable spots all night long. Every drive felt like it was being funneled right into Jokic’s improved positioning in the paint, and even when he didn’t block the shot, he altered plenty. At the same time, Denver's perimeter defenders made sure LA's shooters didn’t get many clean looks from deep and the Clippers ended up turning it over 16 times. The Nuggets turned those mistakes into 25 points going the other way.

After the Fall: Where Do the Clippers Go From Here?

James Harden has a player option this offseason, and while no one seems to know if he’ll test free agency or opt in, the Clippers don’t have a ton of flexibility either way. Kawhi Leonard is still under contract after signing an extension, but his health is always a question mark.

The stars were healthy, the supporting cast had moments, and they still couldn’t get out of the first round. The Clippers are well over the second apron, have limited draft capital, and not a ton of room to make major changes. There’s also a real question about whether this version of the team has already hit its ceiling. It’s hard to blow things up with a new arena just opened and big names under contract, but something’s got to give.

Ownership flew more than a hundred die‑hards to Denver for Game 7 — first‑class charter, lower‑bowl seats, the whole nine. Those fans spent most of the second half silently watching the season come to an end. That’s a rough vibe check heading into a summer where the bill comes due on a maxed‑out core that can’t get past Round 1.

MVP Finalists Collide In Round 2

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander spent the last week resting up, watching tape, and staying sharp after the Thunder breezed through a sweep of Memphis. Meanwhile, the Nuggets were locked in a physical, emotional seven-gamer and logged over 340 grueling minutes to get here. No question, one team’s coming in fresher.

The matchup problems are obvious:

• Thunder Defense: First in defensive efficiency, first in opponent turnovers, first in points off turnovers. They’re 19‑0 when holding teams under 100, 50‑1 under 110.

• Turnover Differential: OKC was +4.6 per night in the regular season; Denver was ‑2.2. That math matters.

• Length Everywhere: Lu Dort, Alex Caruso, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren swallow space like no one else in the league.

If Denver’s Achilles heel is surviving those Jokic‑less stretches, the Thunder are built to turn those minutes into six‑point swings before you refresh the scoreboard.

Westbrook Reunion Tour, Stop 2

Brodie faced OKC in the bubble with Houston, but this will be his first playoff game in front of a live Paycom Center crowd wearing enemy colors. That building is going to be rocking when he walks in wearing different colors.

From Survive to Advance

The Nuggets might not get much rest heading into their second-round matchup with Oklahoma City, but what they will bring is momentum — and a lot of it. After going through a hard-fought, physical seven-game series and closing it out with a convincing win, Denver looks like a team that’s locked in and firing on all cylinders.

Meanwhile, the Clippers head into the offseason with more questions than answers. They had health, they had experience, and they still came up short.

It’s a reminder of how quickly things move in the playoffs. No time to look back — Round 2 is already waiting.

All stats courtesy of NBA.com.