Great performance of L.A. Clippers, who after leaving game-2 on the road with an apathetic performance, wake up in game-3 and take the lead in the series against the Denver Nuggets. Doc Rivers’ team needed a 23-10 run in the last eight and a half minutes of the game to clear a 7-length gap and close the score, leading to 2-1.
Paul George finished one of his best games of these playoffs with 32 points and excellent percentages (12/18 from the field, 5/7 from three and 3/3 to free), leading an attack that also had 23 points with 14 rebounds and 6 assists from Kawhi Leonard and double digits from Marcus Morris (12), Montrezl Harrell (11) and Lou Williams (10).
However, the Clippers suffered for a long time from the offensive exuberance of the Nuggets, who led by a Nikola Jokic in great shape (despite being in doubt until doubtful due to a wrist injury) with 32 points, 12 rebounds and 8 assists. Precisely the winning passes were the leitmotif of coach Malone’s team, capable of distributing 32 assists out of 44 baskets scored but not producing enough points in the final match.
To close the accounts was in fact a sensational play by Kawhi Leonard, able to stop a dunk attempt by Jamal Murray using only the middle finger. “He has extra inches, his finger seemed to keep growing,” said Paul George jokingly about his partner’s play, certainly one of the highlights of these Los Angeles playoffs.