Clippers 105 vs 102 Nuggets Game 2 summary, stats, scores and highlights | NBA Playoffs
With the game on the line, you knew who LA was going to. Kawhi had the hot hand all night and dropped the mic with an elbow jumper to stretch the lead to three and then locked down Jokic on the other end as he tried to tie the game up with a buzzer beating three.
It's all square at 1-1 heading back to Los Angeles and I cant' wait to see how the rest of this series plays out.
It went back and forth all night long. From start to finish there was nothing between these teams and it showed on the scoreboard. The largest lead any team had was 8 and this one was always going to go down to the wire.
Let's just go over Kawhi's stat line. Leonard had 39 points on 15/19 shooting. He went 4/7 from downtown, was perfect from the FT line, had 3 rebounds and dished 5 assists while coming up with 2 steals, 1 block and turning the ball over just once. It doesn't get much better than that. Despite those incredible numbers, it took everything Leonard and the Clips had to pull this game out of the Mile High City.
Westbrook had 7 big points in the final minutes of Game 1 and he tied up the game with a three ball against his old team on a night that he went for 14 off the bench.
Leonard was locked in all game long. Driving, around the cup, pulling up from the mid range, stepping back from the perimeter. He was in his bag in Game 2, and he was the reason the Clippers pulled off the win in Denver.
Jokic had his 19th playoff triple double but turned the ball over 7 times and went just 6/10 from the FT line. He was great, but there were somethings that he will be the first to admit he's got to do better. He had 26, 12 and 10, but there were a couple untimely mistakes in the second half.
The Nuggets defense had no answer for Kawhi on Saturday night. They gave him all sorts of looks, and it didn't matter if Gordon, MPJ or Watson was matched up on him. Leonard got to his spot whenever he wanted to and hit almost every shot he took on Monday.
Harden took a back seat to Kawhi in Game 2, but he still 18 points and 7 rebounds and had some big shots at key moments late in the 2nd half.
Kawhi gave the Clippers a slight lead heading into halftime with this incredible buzzer beater at the end of the second quarter. There was nothing separating these two teams for the first six quarters of the series and there would be nothing separating them for the final two quarters of Game 2.
James Harden had led the Clips in scoring for the last couple huge games for LA, but Game 2 it was all Kawhi. He started the game 11/12 from the field and ended the night 15/19. Not all of them were this easy.
Russell Westbrook has been huge for the Nuggets over the first two games. He's come up with big, timely bucket late in the game, but the Clips had an answer for everything the Nuggets threw at them.
The Nuggets made a little run at the end of the first quarter and pulled out to a six point lead but that would be about as big of a lead as we would see all night. Neither team led by more than 8 points all game, and it was on a knife's edge all night long.
How nice it must be for Clippers fans to see a healthy Kawhi Leonard around playoff time. This is what they shelled out big money to see, and after long bouts with serious injuries he seems to be back to his best. He started 5/5 from the field and that was just the beginning.
The Los Angeles Clippers pulled even with the Denver Nuggets in another tight game that went down to the wire on Monday night from Ball Arena. Kawhi Leonard posted 39 points and was nearly perfect from the field in the 105-102 Game 2 win.
It was billed as the series of the first round, and so far it has been even better than advertised. Both teams came out swinging after an overtime thriller in Game 1 on Saturday.
IT'S ALL OVER!!!
The LA Clippers even this series up with a near perfect night from Kawhi!!!
Braun had a look for three to tie the game, but air balled it and Jokic put up a desperation heave on the turn around but that hits off the iron and the Clippers survive!!!
Leonard pulls up from the elbow and he hits the big shot out of the timeout!!! He's got 39 on the night!!!
Timeout Clippers with 1:03 to go in the 4th.
Jokic to the line after the foul on Zubac and he hits both FTs.
MPJ chased down the long defensive rebound but lost it and that led to a Powell three ball from the wing!!!
Timeout Nuggets with 1:30 to go in the 4th quarter
Murray ties it with a catch and release three ball with under 2:00 to go!!
Leonard pulls the trigger and hits the mid range jumper over the defender
Gordon just ad a wide open dunk and he missed it as it bounced off the back iron!
Under 3:00 to go from Denver.
Powell dumps it off to Zubac down low and he gets the lay up to go and the foul! FT is no good after the foul on Gordon.
Porter Jr. with the offensive rebound and he gets fouled by Powell. MPJ hits one of two FTs.
TIMEOUT CLIPPERS WITH 4:11 TO GO!!!
Jokic finds Porter Jr. for the three ball that tis the game with just over 4:00 to go and with that Jokic gets his triple double!
Jokic to the line after the foul on Zubac and he hits one of two FTs. He's 4/8 from the line tonight.
Powell with another floater in the lane and he's had a couple big buckets in the last few minutes.
Kawhi was left wide open in the corner and he strings the three ball! He's got 35 on the night!
Murray missed the three ball but MPJ was there for the tip in!
Powell in the paint and his floater falls after the feed from Leonard.
The call stands, so LA is charged with a TO, and Westbrook goes to the line where he hits one of two FTs.
Westbrook to the line after the foul on Bogdanovic, but the Clippers are going to challenge the call with 6:49 to go.
Westbrook with another three ball off the kickout from Jokic and he drills it!!! It's tied in the 4th here from Denver!!!
Leonard finds Zubac in the lane and he hits the push shot.
Jokic spins on Bogdanovic and gets the turn around hook shot to fall.
Westbrook was left open in the corner and he hits a big three ball out of the timeout!!!
Leonard wide open from the perimeter and he drills the three ball!!!! He's got 32 points and is 12/13 from the field!!
Timeout Denver with 9:58 to go in the 4th!!!
Leonard to the line after the foul on Jokic and he hits both FTs.
Murray with a drive into traffic and he lays it up and in.
Jones with the jam after Bogdanovic stripped Westbrook and laid it off for the dunk.
Zubac to the line after the foul on Murray and he hits both FTs.
Jokic with a step back three ball out of the break and he's getting hot at the right time!!! He had 10 in the 3rd and a three to start the 4th.
WE ARE HEADING TO THE FOURTH QUARTER AND IT'S A ONE POSSESSION GAME FROM DENVER!!!
Jokic follows his own miss in the paint and lays it up and in.
Jokic answers back with a three ball from the wing!!!
Skip pass from Zubac to Batum in the corner with the quick trigger three!!!
Harden sends Gordon to the line and he hits both FTs.
Jokic to the line after the foul on Powell but he misses both FTs.
Timeout Clippers with 2:34 to go in the 3rd quarter.
Harden on his patented side step three ball and he strokes it from the wing.
Jones wiggles into the paint and he floats it up and in.
Jokic down low and he gets the lay up to fall in traffic.
Batum with the steal and Simmons lasered a pass to Dunn for the jam.
Bruan, Powell and and Dunn were handed unsportsmanlike fouls, so two Techs will cancel out and DEN will get a FT. Murray hits the FT after the little scuffle.
Dunn just got in the face of Murray after Murray grabbed hold of him and picked him up around the three point line. A foul on Murray is handed out and the refs are going to look to see if there was anything else involved.
Jokic to the line after the foul on Dunn and he hits one of two FTs.
Power on the floater in the lane and he sees it fall.
Leonard pull up from the mid range and he's now 11/12 with 27 points.
Jokic with the kick out to Murray on the wing and he drills the three ball!
TIMEOUT NUGGETS WITH 6:56 TO GO IN THE 3RD QUARTER.
Leonard into the paint and his hot night continues.
Braun in the corner with a long two off the spot up.
Harden got two defenders to fly by on the pump fake and sank the three ball from the wing!
Jokic to the line after the foul on Zubac and hits both FTs.
Murray on the pull up from the elbow and he's got 14 on the night.
Harden gets into the lane and hits the little floater from inside.
Leonard to the line after the foul on Gordon and he hits both FTs.
Gordon down the lane with a strong move and lay up in traffic.
Jokic starts the half off with a lob from the paint for Gordon who slams it home off the alley oop.
WE ARE BACK IN PLAY FROM DENVER FOR THE SECOND HALF OF ACTION!
You know you're having yourself a night when shots like this go. Kawhi knocked this down to end the half and give the Clips the lead heading into the break .
The Clips went on a 6-0 run to tie the game back up early in the 2nd, but Westbrook came off the bench and hit a three ball that was answered by Powell as each team continued to trade blows.
The Nuggets went on a little run to open up a 6 point lead over the Clips heading into the second quarter, but neither team has had more than an 8 point lead in what was a tight first half.
Kawhi Leonard was lights out in the first half. He started the game 5/5 and had 12 of the Clippers 25 points in the first quarter. He would continue his hot shooting into the 2nd quarter.
It was a three point barrage early on for both teams as each team traded early blows. That would slow down in the second quarter, as each team went to the break with 7 threes a piece but both teams came out swinging out of the gate.
Dide we expect anything different after watching Game 1? It's been tight, it's been back and forth and it's been intense for the first 24 minutes. Joker as always focused on getting his teammates involved early and and hit Murray for this early bucket.
WE ARE HEADING TO THE HALFTIME BREAK FROM DENVER!!!
Leonard had to pull the trigger with the game clock running out and he beats the buzzer with a three ball despite two defenders being draped all over him!
Murray off the dribble and he hits the elbow jumper.
Harden chases down the loose ball and he floats it up and in with the shot clock winding down.
Jokic answers back with a three ball from the wing and we are back to a tie ball game.
Leonard on the kick out and he finds Harden for three at the top of the key.
Jokic spins in the lane and he dumps it off from Westbrook who lays it up and in.
Powell to the line after the foul on Gordon and he hits one of two FTs.
Dunn with the rebound on one end and Kawhi broke to the bucket and jammed it on the break!
Harden pulls the trigger from long range and he drains the three ball from the wing!
Leonard pulls up from the FT line and he hits the mid range jumper.
Westbrook air balled the three ball, but Gordon was there for the tip in and the foul! FT is good after the foul on Dunn.
Powell steps into a three ball in transition after the dish from Harden and the Nuggets need a timeout.
We'll take a break from Denver wit 4:41 to go in the 2nd quarter.
Westbrook comes off the bench and immediately hits the three ball off the feed from Jokic. Braun got the long offensive rebound to extend the possession.
Murray with the drive to the cup and he slips it off to Gordon for the slam down low.
Zubac to the line after the foul on Braun and he hits both FTs.
Batum was open for three from the top of the key and he hit the long ball! Back and forth we go here in the 2nd quarter.
Murray pulls up from the other wing and he drills the triple try and the Nuggets answer with a 6-0 run of their own.
MPJ pulls up from the wing and he hits the three out of the timeout to break the Clippers run.
Batum defelectes the pass from Murray and finds Jones transition for the lay up on the other end and the Nuggets need a timeout from Denver after a 6-0 start to the 2nd quarter from the Clips.
Leonard spots up from the elbow and he hits the mid range jumper.
Zubac with the tip in after following his own miss.
WE ARE AT THE END OF THE FIRST QUARTER AND THE NUGGETS LEAD BY SIX!!
Kawahi had 12 of the Clippers 25 in the first, but it was a team effort that has Denver in the lead. Murray has 7, MPJ has 6, but 8 of 9 players have scored for the Nugs.
Injury report: Nuggets
There is a looming threat hanging over the Nuggets and that is the lingering calf injury that continues to nag Aaron Gordon. He was sensational in Game 1, but a long and exhausting series could take it’s toll on the Nuggets’ matchup nightmare. He is listed as probable while Jokic and Murray are listed as available.
Injury report: Clips
When you have a team that is full of experienced veterans well into their 30s, having a clean injury report at this juncture of the season is a luxury. Kawhi Leonard has stayed healthy and the Clippers have become one of the en vogue picks to make it to the NBA Finals. He is healthy, Harden is healthy and so is the rest of the team. Ty Lue will be crossing his fingers that it stays that way for as long as possible.
Westbrook turning back the time
One of the heroes of Game 1 was Denver Nuggets veteran Russell Westbrook. The former MVP has been to the NBA Finals once and been a part of plenty of deep playoff runs. The 36 year old has seen his role change since he was the MVP of the league. He is a role player who usually is reserved to bring energy off the bench, but late in Game 1 he scored 7 points and had a chance to win the game at the end of regulation. He didn’t get a shot up as the clock hit 00:00 but did contribute in the overtime session and he will have something to say in the rest of the games against his former team, the LA Clippers.
Adelman vs. Lue
David Adelman was in the eye of the storm following the unexpected firing of Mike Malone in Denver. He was named as the replacement and since then has won all four of the Nuggets game as the head coach. He coached his first playoff game, and led the Nuggets to a tough overtime win over the Clippers. This is the playoffs and coaching mattes. Game plans change, matchups are exploited and tactics are a constant chess game. He’s going up against a coach in Ty Lue that has won 54 of the 92 games he’s coached in the playoffs and won an NBA title with LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016. There is a big difference in playoff experience on the sidelines and that could decide this series between two teams that are even Steven in this first round matchup up.
MVP Finalists announced
The MVP Finalists have been announced and to no surprise to anyone Nikola Jokic is one of the three finalists. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the resounding favorite after leading the league in scoring and anchoring a team that had the best record in the league. Giannis Antetokoumnpo had a fantastic season, but the Bucks finished 5th in the East. Jokic averaged 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds and 10.2 assists, top three in the league in all categories and became the third player ever to average a triple double. If he didn’t have three MVPs to his name his case might be a little stronger, but it seems like the scales are tilting in favor of the OKC superstar. Now it’s a waiting game to see who gets the most votes for this year’s Most Valuable Players.
Star watch: Clippers
All the talk around the Clippers resurgence to prominence has been centered around Kawhi Leonard and is return to full fitness. That led to them being one of the hottest teams in the league during the final stretch of the season. They won 17 of their last 20 games, and while a lot of that is attributed to Kawhi Leonard, we have to give some love to James Harden. He had 32, 6 and 11 assists last game, and put up 39, 7 and 10 in the season finale against the Warriors to keep the Clips out of the Play In. If LA is going to get a win in Denver, Harden is going to have to have the same kind of game he’s had over the last couple of games.
Star watch: Denver
Let’s take a break from highlighting Nikola Jokic in the star watch portion of a preview for a day. Knowing him, he won’t mind. When the Denver Nuggets are at their best, they have Aaron Gordon rolling on both sides of the floor. He was instrumental in the Nuggets title run a couple years ago, creating mismatches on one end of the floor with his size and strength and locking down on the defensive end of the floor. He had 25 in Game 1 and hit his one and only three in a massive moment late in the game. He and the Clippers know that he is going to have to be just as good for the rest of the series and for the rest of the playoffs.
Game 1 recap
Game 1 was everything we wanted and expected this series to be. It was close, physical, intense and went down to the wire. We needed and extra five minutes to determine a winner and in the end it was the home side that just barely pulled out the W. The Clippers controlled most of the first half, and led for the entire third quarter although the Nuggets were right on their heels. James Harden’s 32 points paced the Clips and Kawhi put in another 22 points and 6 rebounds but he did turn the ball over 7 times. Nikola Jokic was his usual brilliant self, scoring 29 points, dishing 12 assists and grabbing 9 rebounds, while Aaron Gordon and and Jamal Murray put in 20+ a piece. After battling back in the fourth quarter and taking the lead momentarily both teams went back and forth until the final possession of regulation. The Nuggets didn’t get a shot off, but were able to win the game in overtime and take the 1-0 lead.
We are live from Ball Arena
Hello everyone and welcome to the Mile High City where the Nuggets are looking to double their advantage over the the Clippers before heading out West for Game’s 3 and 4. It was hyped as the series of the opening round, and the first game didn’t disappoint. Now we will see if the entire series is going to be just as close with tonight’s game from Ball Arena. Game 2 always has heavy implications on how the rest of the series will play out so both teams will come out of the night with a win in their pocket.
Clippers vs. Nuggets Game 2
It was expected to be the series of the first round and Game 1 didn’t disappoint. Tonight, we should be expecting more of the same from two teams who showed there is not a whole lot between either of them. The Denver Nuggets are back home looking to take care of home court advantage tonight, but the Los Angeles Clippers are have a chance to steal one and head back to LA with some wind in their sails after losing a heartbreaker on Saturday afternoon. AS English will be with you all night, providing live coverage, stats, highlights and analysis for this huge Game 2 from Ball Arena.