{"id":33233,"date":"2020-09-03T12:08:38","date_gmt":"2020-09-03T16:08:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=33233"},"modified":"2020-09-03T12:08:38","modified_gmt":"2020-09-03T16:08:38","slug":"los-angeles-clippers-denver-nuggets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2020\/09\/03\/los-angeles-clippers-denver-nuggets\/","title":{"rendered":"Los Angeles Clippers vs. Denver Nuggets NBA Playoffs Preview"},"content":{"rendered":"

Neither the Los Angeles Clippers<\/a> nor the Denver Nuggets<\/a> made quick work of their first-round opponents. Nonetheless, the higher seeds moved onto the Western Conference Semifinals. This matchup squares off the deep rosters of the second-seeded Clippers and third-seeded Nuggets.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

NBA Playoffs Preview: Los Angeles Clippers vs. Denver Nuggets\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

First Round Troubles\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n

Reigning Finals MVP <\/span>Kawhi Leonard<\/a><\/b> led the Clippers through a tumultuous first-round matchup with the Dallas Mavericks<\/a>. While his supporting cast struggled, Leonard carried the load averaging 32.8 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 2.3 steals per game.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Dallas pushed Los Angeles to six games with the struggles of the Clippers supporting cast. Although Los Angeles\u2019 game five blowout was an aberration,\u00a0 the remaining five games of this series played close, each decided by 20 points or less.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Nuggets used heroics from <\/span>Jamal Murray<\/a><\/b> to storm back from a 3-1 hole to the Utah Jazz<\/a>. In doing so, Denver became just the 12th team in NBA history to rally back from a 3-1 deficit.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As is deserving of any series that goes seven games, the ending was chaotic.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

The chaotic end to Jazz – Nuggets pic.twitter.com\/sDBNrlTLTb<\/a><\/p>\n

— CJ Fogler \ud83e\udee1 (@cjzero) September 2, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n