Maybe if the Denver Nuggets started every series down 3-1, they would be the favorite for the NBA championship. Denver stayed alive once again, coming back from a 19-point third-quarter deficit to win 111-98 against the Los Angeles Clippers and force a Game Seven.
Nikola Jokic had 34 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists in the win and Jamal Murray chipped in with 21 points, five rebounds and five assists. Paul George had 33 points and five steals in the loss.
Almost a mirror image of Game Five, the Nuggets were down by double digits early and often. A 17-0 run by the Nuggets midway through the third frame cut the deficit to one point. In the final quarter, Denver had a 34-19 advantage. The Nuggets outscored the Clippers 64-35 in the second half.
The Nuggets also fell behind 3-1 in their first playoff series, against the Utah Jazz. They won the next three games to advance to the second round. Facing the same exact proposition against the Clippers, the Nuggets have run off two consecutive wins and have a chance to advance to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2009.
If you believe in bad luck, the Clippers still have never made the Western Conference Finals in their 50-year history. They famously blew a 3-1 series lead against the Houston Rockets in the 2015 semifinals.
Even with history not working out in their favor, the Clippers still have two-time Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard and Paul George at their disposal. A loss to would be a major disappointment for championship favorite Los Angeles as well as most neutral fans, upending the chance of a dream Western Conference Finals matchup between the Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers at the proverbial one-inch line.
Game Seven between the Nuggets and Clippers will be played on Tuesday night.
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