LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Even before his team lost its lead to the Denver Nuggets on Sunday afternoon, Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers turned to Tyronn Lue, one of his assistants, and told him that he sensed trouble. His players had slowed their pace on offense. It was obvious. But once that pace was gone, it was gone for good.
Presented with two opportunities to close out the Nuggets in the conference semifinals, the Clippers have now blown both. On Friday, they wasted a 16-point lead in a Game 5 loss. On Sunday, they disintegrated again as the Nuggets erased a 19-point deficit in a 111-98 win, evening the best-of-seven series at three games apiece. Game 7 is Tuesday night.
This is not the same Clippers team that, in 2015, blew a 3-1 series lead to the Houston Rockets in the conference semifinals, losing in seven games. Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, the leaders of that group, are long gone. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, who were brought in at no small cost last offseason to push a playoff-ready team over the top, have nothing to do with any of the franchise’s unfortunate history, of course.
No player in the series has been more fearsome than Jokic, who has averaged 25.8 points and 12 rebounds while shooting 53% from the field. On Sunday, the Nuggets outscored the Clippers by 62-30 over the game’s final 22 minutes. Jokic finished with 34 points. In the Clippers’ 50 years of existence, they have made 15 trips to the playoffs and eight appearances in the conference semifinals, dating to their days as the Buffalo Braves. But that is as far as they have ever gone.
Philippines Latest News, Philippines Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Source: ABSCBNNews - 🏆 5. / 83 Read more »
Source: ANCALERTS - 🏆 26. / 50 Read more »
Source: ABSCBNNews - 🏆 5. / 83 Read more »
Source: ABSCBNNews - 🏆 5. / 83 Read more »
Source: ABSCBNNews - 🏆 5. / 83 Read more »
Source: gmanetwork - 🏆 12. / 63 Read more »