• The Denver Nuggets defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 120-101 in Game 7 of their NBA playoff series.
• Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun combined for 43 points, leading a balanced Nuggets attack, while Russell Westbrook added 16 points.
• The Nuggets advance to face the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round, setting up a clash between MVP finalists Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

The Denver Nuggets triumphed over the Los Angeles Clippers in a dominant 120-101 Game 7 victory, securing their advancement to the second round of the NBA playoffs. The Nuggets' balanced scoring, coupled with a strong defensive performance, proved too much for the Clippers, who struggled despite Kawhi Leonard's 22 points. The win followed a tumultuous end to the regular season for the Nuggets, marked by the firing of their head coach, Michael Malone. Now, Denver is set to face the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder.

• What: The Denver Nuggets defeated the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 7 of their NBA playoff series to advance to the second round.
• Who: Key players include Nikola Jokic, Aaron Gordon, Christian Braun, Russell Westbrook (Nuggets); Kawhi Leonard, James Harden (Clippers). Interim coach David Adelman led the Nuggets.
• When: The game took place on Saturday, May 3, 2025. The second-round series against the Oklahoma City Thunder begins on Monday.
• Where: Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado, was the site of Game 7.

The Nuggets' Game 7 victory signifies their resilience and adaptability following the mid-season coaching change. The balanced scoring attack, particularly the contributions of Gordon and Braun, highlights the team's depth and potential for success in the playoffs. Westbrook's performance against his former team adds an intriguing narrative to the series. However, the upcoming matchup against the Thunder presents a formidable challenge, as they are the top-seeded team in the Western Conference. How Jokic performs against the Thunder's defense will be a crucial factor in the Nuggets' chances of advancing further.

"I think the owner ... wanted to change something, to change the energy, and probably he did. He got the result he was looking for."

"I thought it reminded me of the year we won it. There's a lot of humble confidence in there. You have to go into these games with great respect for who's across the hall here, what those guys are capable of doing. But you also can't go into the game not thinking that, 'Yeah, we can get this done.' We've done this, we've seen this, we've been through this before and we've succeeded."

"Damn, that's solid. I guess it didn't work out so well for them."

Everybody came to play. Everybody was ready, the home crowd was into it, and we were able to get the job done.

The Denver Nuggets' hard-fought Game 7 victory over the Clippers marks a significant milestone, but an even greater challenge looms in the form of the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder. This series is not just a clash of teams, but a highly anticipated showdown between two MVP contenders, Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. While the Thunder swept their first-round series against the Grizzlies, showcasing their historically great defense and league-leading point differential, the Nuggets had a tougher series against the Clippers, displaying resilience and adaptability. The key for Denver will be maintaining their balanced attack, defensive intensity, and finding ways to exploit the Thunder's defense, while limiting open looks for players like Michael Porter Jr. and Christian Braun. For Oklahoma City, the focus will be on leveraging their depth, athleticism, and defensive prowess to contain Jokic and disrupt the Nuggets' offensive flow. History favors the Thunder in their playoff encounters, but Jokic's playoff experience and ability to elevate his game, along with Jamal Murray's postseason surge, could shift the balance. As the Nuggets look to recapture their championship form against a young, hungry Thunder team led by Gilgeous-Alexander, this series promises a thrilling battle with potential shifts in momentum.