The Denver Nuggets failed to close out their first-round series on Thursday night, falling 111-105 to the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 6 at Intuit Dome.
Despite holding a 3-2 lead entering the contest, Denver was undone by a sluggish second half and a dominant third quarter from Los Angeles.
Nikola Jokic, who finished with 25 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds, admitted after the game that discipline and effort were lacking.
“We were not really into anything in offense, and defensively… every 50/50 ball, every offensive rebound, it kind of went to their side,” Jokic said postgame.
The Clippers outscored the Nuggets 32-22 in the third quarter and built a 15-point lead midway through the fourth before Denver mounted a brief rally.
James Harden led the charge with 28 points and eight assists, while Kawhi Leonard added 27 points, 10 boards, and five dimes.
Norman Powell provided a major lift off the bench with 24 points, including a key three-pointer late in the fourth quarter.
Jokic pointed to two stretches — one in the second quarter and one after halftime — where Denver’s focus waned and the Clippers took advantage.
“They were quicker, they were faster than us,” Jokic said, describing how Los Angeles beat them to key loose balls and rebounds.
The Nuggets star was limited to just five points in the second half and went 2-for-9 from the field after halftime, struggling to solve Ivica Zubac’s physical defense.
“Zubac was really good… he made me question my shots,” Jokic said. “He was always there.”
Tyronn Lue’s decision to start Nicolas Batum in the second half over Kris Dunn also had an impact, creating more spacing for Harden and Leonard.
“Batum is a much better shooter than Dunn,” Jokic said. “It created spacing for James and Kawhi.”
Jamal Murray, who tallied 21 points and eight assists, described Denver’s response to the adjustment as “disorganized.”
Jokic agreed that the shift altered the game’s rhythm, but said the Nuggets can’t afford to overreact.
“They’re all-time greats,” he said of Harden and Leonard. “We need to give them the respect they deserve.”
The loss marked Denver’s third failure in its last four tries to close out a series after taking a 3-2 lead.
Game 7 will be held Saturday night at Ball Arena, where the Nuggets hope to reverse recent history and advance to face the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder.
When asked about his mindset for another elimination game, Jokic was blunt.
“It’s just another one,” he said. “Every game is important, and every game I want to win.”
