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ESPN’s “The Jump” runs a segment called “Make or Miss” that begins with NBA players saying, “It’s a win-or-miss league.”
Clippers point guard Patrick Beverley declined to participate:
This clip of Patrick Beverley featuring @Raquel_Nichols it’s perfect on all levels pic.twitter.com/V4WHiRzvS1
– Dan Feldman (@DanFeldmanNBA) Apr 16, 2019
Beverley fights for every inch on (and off) the court. For him, games are decided with effort and determination, not luck.
Which could explain why he was so frustrated tonight.
After losing Game 1 for 23, the Nuggets tied their second-round series with the Clippers with a 110-101 victory on Saturday. Denver built a 23-point lead in the first half with 76% on 2-point shots and 67% on 3s.
The Los Angeles defense wasn’t disruptive, but it wasn’t particularly porous either. The Nuggets just took shots. So many shots.
Denver’s offense cooled significantly the rest of the way (38% in 2 points, 25% in triples). But that initial deficit was too much to overcome in Los Angeles.
Beverley got an early exit with an expulsion in the fourth quarter:
The Nuggets, who overcame a 3-1 deficit to beat the Jazz in the first round, continued to show their fight. Teams that lost Game 1 of a series by at least 20 points had lost Game 2 66% of the time.
“In Game 1, we were tired,” said Denver point guard Jamal Murray, who foreshadowed that. “I hate to admit it. But we were tired. We came out careless, exhausted, fatigued.”
Murray (28 points) and Nikola Jokic (26 points and 18 rebounds) led Denver tonight, and several role players helped. Gary Harris (13 points on 4 of 7 3-point shooting with excellent defense) was particularly inspiring as he rejoins the lineup after injury.
The Nuggets also played better team defense, particularly against Kawhi Leonard (13 points on 4-of-17 shooting).
Was Denver’s defense as stifling as the Clippers made it seem at times? No. LA was a little flat and a little cold.
That just won’t do it when an offensive high-ceiling team catches fire.
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