Russell Westbrook is preparing for a high-stakes postseason matchup as the Denver Nuggets face the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round of the NBA Playoffs.
The 36-year-old veteran guard spoke to reporters ahead of the series, reflecting on his time with the Clippers and his familiarity with former teammate James Harden.
Westbrook, who joined Denver in the offseason, emphasized that the Nuggets’ late push helped solidify their playoff seeding and team chemistry.
“Guys did a good job of just locking in—game by game, possession by possession,” he said.
The Nuggets finished the regular season with a 50-32 record, tying with the Lakers and Clippers but landing the No. 4 seed due to tiebreakers.
Westbrook noted that interim head coach David Adelman brought a fresh voice after the team’s coaching change, helping players reset and refocus.
Asked about the mood shift following Michael Malone’s dismissal, Westbrook said, “It gives you an opportunity… to get a fresh start.”
The former MVP addressed the challenge of guarding Harden, who leads the Clippers in scoring at 22.8 points per game, while also contributing 8.7 assists and 5.8 rebounds.
“He’s going to make shots,” Westbrook said. “But knowing some tendencies definitely matters.”
Westbrook, averaging 13.3 points, 6.1 assists and 4.9 rebounds in 27.9 minutes this season, is expected to play a key leadership role for Denver’s second unit.
He stressed the importance of staying composed, especially for young guards like Jaylen Pickett and Payton Watson, who have limited playoff experience.
“It’s just a basketball game,” he said. “Same hoop, same ball. Just go out and play the way they’ve been playing all year.”
Although returning to Los Angeles for the series brings personal meaning, Westbrook downplayed the narrative of facing his former team, instead highlighting his excitement to see family and spend time with his children.
“Any opportunity I get to go home and be around my family… I’m grateful for that,” he added.
Denver enters the series with the league’s second-highest scoring average at 120.8 points per game, while the Clippers boast the league’s fourth-best defense, allowing just 108.2 points.
The matchup will also pit two of the league’s most experienced guards—Westbrook and Harden—against each other in the playoffs for the first time since their days as teammates in Oklahoma City and Houston.
Game 1 of the Nuggets-Clippers series is scheduled for this Saturday at Ball Arena in Denver.
