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Michael Porter Jr. of the Denver Nuggets reacts after a basket during the second half of an NBA conference semifinal basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers, Friday, Sept. 11, 2020, in Lake Buena. Vista, Florida (AP Photo / Mark J. Terrill)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Florida – Doc Rivers is fully aware of the adage that the hardest games in the NBA to win are those in which one team can finish another’s season.
He would like to amend that theory.
“Just winning a game in the NBA is tough,” the Los Angeles Clippers coach said.
For the Clippers, winning a game at this point in the season has been impossible, forever. The franchise that spent decades best described as afflicted has never reached the conference finals, now 0-6 in games in which they could secure a spot in that round after losing to Denver in Game 5 of their NBA semi-final series. Western Conference.
Game 6 is Sunday, when the Clippers will once again attempt to reach a playoff level they have never reached before. They will take a 3-2 series lead in the matchup, after blowing a 15-point lead in the second half and falling 111-105 to the Nuggets in Game 5.
“We gave up a game,” Clippers forward Paul George said. “Game 6, we have to go in and save them. That’s the emphasis on the series, Game 6. We have to do our job and do it better. “
Kawhi Leonard’s 3-pointer with 1:25 remaining in the third put the Clippers up 80-67. They were outscored 44-25 the rest of the way, shooting 7 of 27 in that span, while Denver was 7 of 9 from 3-point range and 12 of 19 from the court overall in those minutes.
The Nuggets are now 4-0 when facing elimination this season, after coming back 3-1 against Utah in the first round. No NBA franchise has made a pair of 3-1 comebacks in the same decade, let alone the same season, but Denver still has life.
Paul Millsap sparked Denver’s rebound by scoring 14 points in the third quarter, and Nikola Jokic hit 4-of-4 from the field in the fourth to help the Nuggets finish the victory.
“We believe in ourselves,” said Nuggets coach Michael Malone.
A look at Sunday’s game:
CLIPPERS VS. Nuggets
Los Angeles leads 3-2. Game 6, 1 pm EDT, ESPN.
– NEED TO KNOW: It will be a great sports day in Los Angeles, with the Clippers starting at 10 a.m. local time, the Chargers playing their first NFL game in Cincinnati at 1:05 p.m. locally and the Rams at home for their first match. vs. Dallas at 5:20 pm Pacific. The Denver Broncos don’t open their season until Monday night.
– KEEP AN EYE ON: How the Clippers finish. Aside from Leonard, the Clippers were 0 of 9 from 3-point range in the final 13 minutes of Game 5 and 4 of 19 from the field. Leonard had 16 of the Clippers’ final 28 points; yes, he is a two-time MVP of the NBA Finals, but even he needs more help than that.
– INJURY WATCH: Will Barton (right knee) remains out for Denver.
– THE PRESSURE IS ON: The Clippers. If they let this go to Game 7, Denver’s confidence won’t be able to fit into the arena where they would play the decisive game Tuesday night. There will be absolute urgency from the Clippers to finish the job on Sunday.
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