On May 3, the first round of the 2024-25 NBA playoffs ushered in a crucial battle, with the Los Angeles Clippers facing the Denver Nuggets at home. Before this game, the Clippers were 2-3 behind in the series and had no way out. However, they showed a strong desire to win at home. With the strong performance of Harden and Leonard, they finally defeated the Nuggets 111-105, tying the series score to 3-3. The two sides will return to Denver for a tiebreaker.

At the beginning of the game, the Clippers were slow to get into the game, and the Nuggets played relatively smoothly under Jokic's organization. Although they failed to significantly increase the score in a single quarter, they still led 28-25. In the second quarter, the Clippers gradually regained their rhythm, Harden scored consecutively, and Leonard also continued to use his physical advantage to complete efficient finishing, scoring 33 points in a single quarter. Although the Nuggets also had a good touch and scored 29 points, the Clippers had already surpassed by 1 point at the end of the half.

After entering the third quarter, the Nuggets began to make more mistakes on the offensive end, especially in the organization end, the rhythm was disrupted many times by the Clippers, and the connection efficiency between Murray and Jokic decreased. The Clippers took advantage of the victory, Powell frequently scored from the outside, and Zubac built a defensive barrier in the interior. The Clippers once widened the point difference to 11 points and entered the final quarter with a clear advantage.

In the fourth quarter, the Nuggets launched a counterattack, and Murray and Westbrook hit key shots in succession, narrowing the gap to only 6 points. However, the Clippers stabilized their position, and Harden and Leonard stabilized the score again through high pick-and-rolls and low singles. The Nuggets failed to overtake before the end of the game, and the Clippers finally won the game 111-105, successfully defending their home court at the Chase Center.

Clippers player statistics

Harden 28 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals, Leonard 27 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, Powell 24 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, Zubac 10 points, 6 rebounds, 4 blocks, Derrick Jones 8 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 blocks, Batum 6 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, 3 blocks, Bogdanovic 6 points, 3 rebounds, Dunn 2 points, 2 assists

Nuggets player statistics

Jokic 25 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 steals, Murray 21 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 blocks, Aaron Gordon 19 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, Westbrook 14 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, Braun 14 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, Watson 7 points, 2 rebounds, Porter 5 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, Jordan 1 rebound

With the Clippers tying the score, the first-round series between the two teams will usher in the final tiebreaker, and the winner will advance to the Western Conference semifinals. For the Clippers, this is an opportunity to survive in adversity; for the Nuggets, it is a severe test on the road to defending the title.