Nuggets, Clippers clash in Game 7 for right to face Lakers
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA. >> Game 7 awaits the Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers tonight, with the winner headed to the Western Conference Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers.
“Everybody can’t wait for the L.A. Western Conference finals,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said Monday. “But there’s a little city in Colorado called Denver, and we’re trying to do our part to make some noise and kind of further cement our position in the Western Conference and NBA hierarchy because we feel we belong there.”
It’s tough to argue. The Nuggets were down 3-1 to Utah in the first round and advanced; they were down 3-1 to the Clippers this series and are still at Walt Disney World, now 5-0 in elimination games so far this season. Win, and they’ll become the first team in NBA history to successfully erase a pair of 3-1 deficits in the same season — or the same decade, even.
And they rallied from 16 points down to win Game 5, then 19 points down to
win Game 6. Nikola Jokic controlled the game at both ends in the second half, and Denver has plenty of life headed into its fourth consecutive Game 7 — two last year, two this year.
The Clippers have never been to the conference finals; they’ve had seven chances to get there in their franchise history, going 0-7 in those games.
A year ago, Kawhi Leonard hit the first buzzerbeating, game-winning Game 7 shot in NBA history, lifting Toronto past
Philadelphia and into the East finals — on its way to winning the title. The Clippers hope history repeats itself, starting today.
“Oh, he’s unshakable,” Clippers coach Doc Rivers said. “Kawhi, you can’t guarantee he’ll play well or not because he’s human and all players are. But you know the moment won’t be too big. That’s the one thing — with him, you just know that. So, that’s comforting to know that.” BARBOSA JOINS KERR’S STAFF WITH WARRIORS >>
Former Golden State Warriors guard Leandro Barbosa has returned to the organization he helped guide to an NBA championship in 2015, joining the Warriors as a player-mentor coach, the team announced.
He will join head coach Steve Kerr’s staff that has expanded to include more player development personnel over the last year. CELTICS’ HAYWARD IMPRESSES IN WORKOUT >> Gordon Hayward could be inching closer to a return, but the Boston Celtics enter Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals today without him.
Hayward impressed head coach Brad Stevens in what Stevens said was a “hard workout” in a small group. Hayward hasn’t formally practiced or participated in 5-on-5 drills since he suffered a right ankle sprain in the first game of the playoffs on Aug. 17.
His availability for potential games in the conference finals or NBA Finals remains undetermined. He averaged 17.5 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists this season.