Aaron Gordon scored six out of 25 points in overtime, Russell Westbrook came with a big defensive game in the last second and hosts Denver Nagets on Saturday defeated Los Angeles Clippers in game 1 of their first round playoff series.
“Ras Ras Ras,” said David Edelman, head coach of interim ngets. “Defensely, he was absolutely incredible.”
Nicola Jokik ended with 29 points, 12 aids and nine rebels, Jamal Murray scored 21 points, ended with Westbrook 15 and Christian Brauns were 11 for Nagates, hosting the game 2 Monday night.
Nugets took a three-point lead in overtime with 2:24, but James Harden cut it to 105–104 on a floater in lane. Jokik fed Braun for a 3-pointer with 59 seconds, but Harden responded to the remaining 27 seconds.
Gordon scored 10.9 seconds of the remaining two free throw and Westbrook removed the inbounds of the cleapers from Harden. Jokik made two free throw with 6.5 seconds to seal it.
“Honestly, you will find ways to win ugly,” Gordon said. “And I think what we did.”
Harden led Los Angeles with 32 points and received 11 assistance, Evika Jubac ended with 21 points and 13 rebounds, Kavi Leonard scored 22 runs, Norman Powell ended with 12 and Chris Dun 11.
“We are not happy because we went to overtime like this,” said Clippers coach Tiren Lew. “They are a good team and we are also a good team. We are just doing what we are going to do. Take care of basketball, keep them away from glass and we will be cured. If you have been against a team for more than 20 times that is number 1 in aggressive infection, you are going to lose the game.”
After Denver’s trap for most of the game, Murray’s 3-Pinter left the fourth with 7:31, which was tied in 81-All, but Los Angeles took a lead of 87–81.
Murray and Gordon hit 3-pointers and cut it with 4:19 until 92–91, then Westbrook’s Putback gave Denver their first lead since the first quarter.
The clippers went back in front of 94–93 and got a chance to expand the lead, but Leonard left it with 33 seconds.
Westbrook hit a corner 3-pointer to make 98-96 with 24 seconds, Harden tied it with a floater with 18 seconds and the nuggets did not get a shot off before the end of the quarter.
In the second quarter, the clippers led more than 15, but Denver shut down the difference in the final 5:11, with a distance of 53–49 on a halftime. The Nugets were closed in the fourth within 75–72.
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