Nuggets vs Thunder sa semis

DENVER - Kumamada si Aaron Gordon ng 22 points, habang may 21 markers si Christian Braun para gabayan ang Nuggets sa 120-101 pagpapatalsik sa Los Angeles Clippers sa Game 7 ng kanilang first-round playoffs papasok sa Western Conference semifinal series.

Tinapos ng Denver sa 4-3 ang kanilang duwelo ng Los Angeles para harapin ang Oklahoma City Thunder sa best-of-seven semifinals showdown.

Humakot si Nikola Jokic ng 16 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists at 3 steals at may tig-16 markers sina Jamal Murray at Russell Westbrook para sa Nuggets.

“In the playoffs, we know that everybody needs to step up,” sabi ni Jokic. “Is it offensive? Is it defensive? Really, whatever. Energy-wise, in players, everybody needs to step up. And everybody who plays needs to contribute something, especially today ... everybody did that.”

Binanderahan ni forward Kawhi Leonard ang Clippers sa kanyang 22 points, habang nagtala si center Ivica Zubac ng 10 points at 14 rebounds.

Nag-ambag sina Bogdan Bogdanovic at Derrick Jones Jr. ng tig-12 markers, samantalang nalimitahan si star guard James Harden sa pitong puntos para sa Los Angeles na nabaon sa isang 11-point halftime deficit.

“I haven’t thought about the offseason, to be honest,” ani Clippers coach Tyronn Lue. “I thought about OKC; that’s what I was thinking. But it didn’t work out that way. ... It’s frustrating losing, but I’m not frustrated with the guys in the locker room.”

Ang fall-away 16-footer ni Jokic, triple ni Braun at slam dunk ni Gordon ang naglayo sa Nuggets sa 65-50.

Lalo pang humarrurot ang Denver sa 75-50 kalama­ngan sa 8:12 minuto ng third quarter patungo sa kanilang 28-point lead sa Los Angeles sa 5:40 minuto nito.