Russell Westbrook (4) of the Denver Nuggets dunks to ignite the crowd during the fourth quarter of the Nuggets’ 120-101 series-clinching win over the LA Clippers at Ball Arena in Denver on Saturday, May 3, 2025. The Denver Nuggets defeated the LA Clippers 4-3 in their best-of-seven NBA Playoffs series. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Fans erupt after a violent dunk and technical-foul-earning rim hang by Russell Westbrook (4) during the fourth quarter of the Nuggets’ 120-101 series-clinching win over the LA Clippers at Ball Arena in Denver on Saturday, May 3, 2025. The Denver Nuggets defeated the LA Clippers 4-3 in their best-of-seven NBA Playoffs series. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)- Jamal Murray (27) high fives Peyton Watson (8) as he and Aaron Gordon (32) head to the bench during the fourth quarter of the Nuggets’ 120-101 series-clinching win over the LA Clippers at Ball Arena in Denver on Saturday, May 3, 2025. The Denver Nuggets defeated the LA Clippers 4-3 in their best-of-seven NBA Playoffs series. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
- Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets walks off the court after the fourth quarter of the Nuggets’ 120-101 series-clinching win over the LA Clippers at Ball Arena in Denver on Saturday, May 3, 2025. The Denver Nuggets defeated the LA Clippers 4-3 in their best-of-seven NBA Playoffs series. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
- Aaron Gordon (32) and Jamal Murray (27) of the Denver Nuggets prepare to be introduced the first quarter against the LA Clippers at Ball Arena in Denver on Saturday, May 3, 2025. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
- Jamal Murray (27) of the Denver Nuggets is introdcued introduced the first quarter against the LA Clippers at Ball Arena in Denver on Saturday, May 3, 2025. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
- Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets is introdcued introduced the first quarter against the LA Clippers at Ball Arena in Denver on Saturday, May 3, 2025. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
- Derrick Jones Jr. (55) of the LA Clippers swats a shot by Jamal Murray (27) of the Denver Nuggets during the first quarter at Ball Arena in Denver on Saturday, May 3, 2025. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
- Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets grabs a rebound as Ivica Zubac (40) of the LA Clippers watches during the first quarter at Ball Arena in Denver on Saturday, May 3, 2025. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
- Aaron Gordon (32) and Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets defend Kawhi Leonard (2) of the LA Clippers during the first quarter at Ball Arena in Denver on Saturday, May 3, 2025. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
- Aaron Gordon (32) of the Denver Nuggets motions for a foul after scoring against the LA Clippers during the second quarter at Ball Arena in Denver on Saturday, May 3, 2025. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
- Bogdan Bogdanovic (10) of the LA Clippers fouls Peyton Watson (8) of the Denver Nuggets during the second quarter at Ball Arena in Denver on Saturday, May 3, 2025. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
- Head coach David Adelman of the Denver Nuggets reacts to Peyton Watson (8) being whistled for fouling Kawhi Leonard (2) of the LA Clippers during the second quarter at Ball Arena in Denver on Saturday, May 3, 2025. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
- Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets defends Kawhi Leonard (2) of the LA Clippers during the second quarter at Ball Arena in Denver on Saturday, May 3, 2025. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
- Jamal Murray (27) of the Denver Nuggets snarls as he heads to the bench for a breather during the second quarter against the LA Clippers at Ball Arena in Denver on Saturday, May 3, 2025. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
- Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets talks to Christian Braun (0) and Russell Westbrook (4) during the second quarter against the LA Clippers at Ball Arena in Denver on Saturday, May 3, 2025. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
- Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets defends Kawhi Leonard (2) of the LA Clippers during the second quarter at Ball Arena in Denver on Saturday, May 3, 2025. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
- Russell Westbrook (4) of the Denver Nuggets celebrates making a three pointer against the LA Clippers during the second quarter at Ball Arena in Denver on Saturday, May 3, 2025. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
- Aaron Gordon (32) of the Denver Nuggets defends Kawhi Leonard (2) of the LA Clippers during the second quarter at Ball Arena in Denver on Saturday, May 3, 2025. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
- Head coach Ty Lue of the LA Clippers works against the Denver Nuggets during the second quarter at Ball Arena in Denver on Saturday, May 3, 2025. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
- Russell Westbrook (4) of the Denver Nuggets growls after putting back his own missed free throw during the second quarter against the LA Clippers at Ball Arena in Denver on Saturday, May 3, 2025. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
- Kawhi Leonard (2) of the LA Clippers reacts to being called for a foul during the second quarter against teh Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena in Denver on Saturday, May 3, 2025. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
- Aaron Gordon (32) and Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets defend Kawhi Leonard (2) of the LA Clippers during the second quarter at Ball Arena in Denver on Saturday, May 3, 2025. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
- Derrick Jones Jr. (55) of the LA Clippers reacts to Ivica Zubac (40) fouling Jamal Murray (27) of the Denver Nuggets during the second quarter at Ball Arena in Denver on Saturday, May 3, 2025. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
- A Denver Nuggets fan points to the exits as he stands in a red sea of LA Clippers faithful during the fourth quarter of the Nuggets’ 120-101 series-clinching win at Ball Arena in Denver on Saturday, May 3, 2025. The Denver Nuggets defeated the LA Clippers 4-3 in their best-of-seven NBA Playoffs series. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
- Russell Westbrook (4) of the Denver Nuggets mocks Derrick Jones Jr. (55) of the LA Clippers as he argues a call during the fourth quarter of the Nuggets’ 120-101 series-clinching win at Ball Arena in Denver on Saturday, May 3, 2025. The Denver Nuggets defeated the LA Clippers 4-3 in their best-of-seven NBA Playoffs series. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
- DeAndre Jordan (6) and Peyton Watson (8) of the Denver Nuggets maul Bogdan Bogdanovic (10) of the LA Clippers during the fourth quarter of the Nuggets’ 120-101 series-clinching win at Ball Arena in Denver on Saturday, May 3, 2025. The Denver Nuggets defeated the LA Clippers 4-3 in their best-of-seven NBA Playoffs series. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
- Russell Westbrook (4) of the Denver Nuggets steals the ball from Ivica Zubac (40) of the LA Clippers as Aaron Gordon (32) watches during the fourth quarter of the Nuggets’ 120-101 series-clinching win at Ball Arena in Denver on Saturday, May 3, 2025. The Denver Nuggets defeated the LA Clippers 4-3 in their best-of-seven NBA Playoffs series. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
- Russell Westbrook (4) of the Denver Nuggets dunks as Ivica Zubac (40) of the LA Clippers recoils during the fourth quarter of the Nuggets’ 120-101 series-clinching win at Ball Arena in Denver on Saturday, May 3, 2025. The Denver Nuggets defeated the LA Clippers 4-3 in their best-of-seven NBA Playoffs series. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
- Russell Westbrook (4) of the Denver Nuggets goes bezerk after dunking and taking a technical for hanging on the rim theatrically during the fourth quarter of the Nuggets’ 120-101 series-clinching win over the LA Clippers at Ball Arena in Denver on Saturday, May 3, 2025. The Denver Nuggets defeated the LA Clippers 4-3 in their best-of-seven NBA Playoffs series. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
- Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets, who was on the bench due to foul trouble, smiles after Russell Westbrook (4) stole the ball from Ivica Zubac (40) of the LA Clippers before dunking and hanging en route to earning a technical foul that set the building ablaze with pride and raw emotion during the fourth quarter of the Nuggets’ 120-101 series-clinching win at Ball Arena in Denver on Saturday, May 3, 2025. The Denver Nuggets defeated the LA Clippers 4-3 in their best-of-seven NBA Playoffs series. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
- Aaron Gordon (32), Jamal Murray (27) and Michael Porter Jr. (1) of the Denver Nuggets enjoy a much-earned breather on the bench during the fourth quarter of the Nuggets’ 120-101 series-clinching win over the LA Clippers at Ball Arena in Denver on Saturday, May 3, 2025. The Denver Nuggets defeated the LA Clippers 4-3 in their best-of-seven NBA Playoffs series. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
- Head coach David Adelman receives a pat on the chest from assistant coach Ryan Bowen after the fourth quarter of the Nuggets’ 120-101 series-clinching win over the LA Clippers at Ball Arena in Denver on Saturday, May 3, 2025. The Denver Nuggets defeated the LA Clippers 4-3 in their best-of-seven NBA Playoffs series. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
- Russell Westbrook (4) of the Denver Nuggets walks off the court after the fourth quarter of the Nuggets’ 120-101 series-clinching win over the LA Clippers at Ball Arena in Denver on Saturday, May 3, 2025. The Denver Nuggets defeated the LA Clippers 4-3 in their best-of-seven NBA Playoffs series. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
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Russell Westbrook (4) of the Denver Nuggets dunks to ignite the crowd during the fourth quarter of the Nuggets’ 120-101 series-clinching win over the LA Clippers at Ball Arena in Denver on Saturday, May 3, 2025. The Denver Nuggets defeated the LA Clippers 4-3 in their best-of-seven NBA Playoffs series. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
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By AAron Ontiveroz | aontiveroz@denverpost.com | The Denver Post
PUBLISHED: | UPDATED:
Getting your player ready...
The Denver Nuggets hosted the Los Angeles Clippers for Game 7 of their first-round NBA playoff series at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado, on Saturday, May 3, 2025. Denver won 120-101 and advances to face the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Semifinals, starting Monday night in Oklahoma City.
