The LA Clippers took a commanding 3-1 lead over the Denver Nuggets in Game 4.
The Denver Nuggets have proved to be a tougher test for the LA Clippers than previously expected, but Doc Rivers’ team looks up to the challenge in this second-round NBA playoff series.
In a dominant Game 4 win where LA led the entire night, the Clippers took a commanding 3-1 lead in the series, moving one win away from the franchise’s long-awaited first conference finals appearance that not even Chris Paul and Blake Griffin could provide during the Lob City era.
Meanwhile, the Nuggets’ backs are now up against the wall once again, which is familiar territory for them after trailing 3-1 in their first-round series against the Utah Jazz. Denver won three straight games to take that series, but the Clippers will be a totally different caliber of opponent to overcome.
Final
Los Angeles Clippers
96
Denver Nuggets
85
What else did you miss in Game 4 between the Clippers and Nuggets?
The Nuggets now face elimination after yet another game where Jamal Murray was stifled by LA’s defense. While Nikola Jokic got his, finishing the night with 26 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists on 11-of-23 shooting, Murray struggled once again to the tune of 18 points and 7 assists on 6-of-15 shooting.
The Clippers, meanwhile, got a monster 30-point, 11-rebound, 9-assist, 4-steal, 2-block performance from Kawhi Leonard, who’s simply been unstoppable since Denver smothered him in Game 2. While Paul George struggled (10 points on 4-of-10 shooting), four other Clippers scored in double figures, including Montrezl Harrell, who added 15 points in just 18 minutes off the bench.
Denver was held to 39.7 percent shooting and committed 17 turnovers in a Game 5 where the Clips led throughout. The Nuggets will have to be better in Game 5 against a motivated LA squad that will look to close them out and enjoy some extra rest while awaiting the winner of the Los Angeles Lakers-Houston Rockets series.