Clippers blew 3-1 lead and suffered historic playoff implosion against Nuggets that cost head coach his job
The Denver Nuggets handed the Los Angeles Clippers a familiar Game 7 taste.
On Saturday night, the Nuggets and Clippers capped off their electric seven-game series, with Denver coming out top 120-101 to advance to the second round against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
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First Round Classic
Los Angeles Clippers-Denver Nuggets (series tied 3-3)
Game 1 - Denver Nuggets 112-110 Los Angeles Clippers (OT) - Nuggets lead 1-0
Game 2 - Los Angeles Clippers 105-102 Denver Nuggets - Series tied 1-1
Game 3 - -Los Angeles Clippers 117-83 Denver Nuggets - Clippers lead 2-1
Game 4 - Denver Nuggets 101-99 Los Angeles Clippers - Series tied 2-2
Game 5 - Denver Nuggets 131-115 Los Angeles Clippers - Nuggets lead 3-2
Game 6 - Los Angeles Clippers 111-105 Denver Nuggets - Series tied 3-3
Game 7 - Denver Nuggets 120-101 Los Angeles Clippers - Nuggets wins series 4-3
While the top-seeded Thunder look on following a 4-0 series win over the Memphis Grizzlies that ended on April 26 - they now know who their opponent will be.
Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets are headed to OKC.
The Clippers won on Thursday night to level the series for a second time, having trailed the Nuggets 1-0 and 3-2 - while they also held a 2-1 lead in a see-saw contest for the ages.
The teams have been locked in a thrilling playoff series before - the 2020 Western Conference semifinals which sparked a devastating fallout in LA.
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Five years ago—in the NBA bubble in Orlando, Florida, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic—the Clippers stormed to a 3-1 lead.
The franchise had entered the postseason with huge championship expectations after a big off season splash prior to that campaign.
They acquired free agent Kawhi Leonard and were at the center of a blockbuster trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder, exchanging Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a staggering five first-round draft picks for Paul George that was meant to shift the balance of power out West.
So when the Clippers took a 12-point lead at the half of Game 5 vs the Nuggets, they took a huge step towards realizing their championship aspirations.
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However, the second half of that game -- which the Clippers ended up losing 111-105 --would mark the beginning of a stunning series collapse.
Game 6 was much the same story as Game 5; the Clippers went up early, seemingly ready to end the series, only to surrender the lead and lose 111-98 to go to a Game 7.
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That win-or-go-home game saw perennial playoff performer Jamal Murray stun with 40 points as the Nuggets claimed a 104-89 victory, completing a historic comeback by rallying from 3-1 down to win 4-3.
Game 7 was particularly embarrassing for the Clippers. Denver had no business forcing a decider, but stars like Leonard and George came up short when it mattered most.
Leonard finished with 14 points on 6-of-22 shooting, while George had ten points on 4-of-16 shooting.
Before the pandemic, George had earned the 'Playoff P' nickname due to his strong playoff performances, particularly with the Pacers and OKC.
But he quickly became the butt of online jokes due to his struggles inside the NBA Bubble.
He had career-low playoff performance numbers, hit the backboard on a crucial 3-point attempt, and earned the ironic moniker 'Pandemic P'.
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The Nuggets had apparently done the unthinkable, but it wasn't the first time they had turned things around during that postseason.
They overturned a 3-1 deficit in the first round against the Utah Jazz.
It meant they became just the third team in US major sports to rally from a pair of 3-1 deficits in the same playoffs, joining the 1985 Kansas City Royals and 2003 Minnesota Wild.
However, the biggest fallout from that stunning collapse was Clippers head coach Doc Rivers being fired.
Rivers has a 6-10 record in Game 7s and has lost five consecutive Game 7s from 2015-2023.
"Thank you Clipper Nation for allowing me to be your coach and for all your support in helping make this a winning franchise," Rivers said at the time.
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"When I took this job, my goals were to make this a winning basketball program, a free agent destination, and bring a championship to this organization.
"While I was able to accomplish most of my goals, I won't be able to see them all through.
"Though it was a disappointing ending to our season, you are right there and I know what this team is capable of accomplishing with your support."
Fast forward to 2025, and George plays for the Philadelphia 76ers, and the Clippers are yet to reach the NBA Finals.
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With Leonard and James Harden - the latter still chasing a first ring - it's back to the drawing board.
And the Joker moves on.
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