The Los Angeles Clippers beat the Denver Nuggets in a close one 113- 107 on Monday night in Orlando to take a 2-1 series lead.
A block at the rim with One finger by Kawhi Leonard in crunch time pushed the Clippers and help them defeat Denver Nuggets in Game 3 of their Western Conference Semi-finals matchup. Kawhi finished the night with 23 points , 14 rebounds and 6 assists. He did a little bit of everything and his block on Jamal Murray pleased head coach Doc Rivers.
"I didn't know it was one finger. It was a heck of a play. It was impressive," Doc Rivers said. "I didn't even know where he came from. It was a heck of a play."
Paul George led the scoring for the Clippers with 32 points with their other role players all finishing with under 15 points.
It was a close game throughout the night with the Nuggets taking a 7 point lead early on in the 4th Quarter. The Clippers however locked in on defense and took the lead once again, a lead they never lost.
"The game came down to one of the two teams was going to play some defense," Rivers said. "For 3 1/2 quarters both teams were basically scoring. In the last six minutes it was our defense.
"We had our lapses. There's no doubt about that. But overall, when we locked in we were really good."
Nikola Jokic who was questionable for tonight’s game with a sore wrist finished the night with 32 points 12 rebounds and 8 assists. He was amazing to watch on the night and at certain points he even moved the ball around like a Quarter back. He had an answer for everything the Clippers defense threw at him with Zubac, Harrell and Green all picking up 2 fouls very early in the game.
Micheal Porter Jnr finished with 18 points on a Murray struggled. Jamal Murray was held to just 14 points from 5 of 17 shooting.
The Clippers defense struggled for most part of the night against Jokic and in the paint especially. Their quality was however evident in crunch time and should winning more easily if they produce that consistently.
Nuggets however will need Jokic to keep producing at this level and for Murray to do better than he did tonight. If any of their role players could add 18+ like Potter Jnr did tonight then they still have a chance in this series.
Game 4 is on Wednesday night.