The stage is set. Game 7. All tied at 3-3. The Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers are locked in a straight-up slugfest. Now it all comes down to one final throwdown in the first round of the NBA Playoffs.
These two Western Conference heavyweights have gone punch for punch, bucket for bucket, and blow for blow through six physical games. With a spot in the next round, Ball Arena in Denver is about to be rocking.
Clippers vs. Nuggets: Injury Report and Expected Lineups
The Nuggets are expected to go with the obvious starting five:
- Jamal Murray
- Christian Braun
- Michael Porter Jr.
- Aaron Gordon
- Nikola Jokić
Off the bench, Russell Westbrook provided solid energy and playmaking. Injury-wise, DaRon Holmes II remains out for the season with an Achilles injury.
Surprisingly, the Clippers are reporting no major injuries heading into Game 7—a rare situation this deep into a playoff series.
Their expected lineup:
- James Harden
- Kris Dunn
- Kawhi Leonard
- Norman Powell
- Ivica Zubac
Key depth guys like Derrick Jones Jr., Nicolas Batum, and Bogdan Bogdanovic should all see meaningful minutes.
Game 6 Recap and Prediction for Game 7
The Clippers refused to roll over in Game 6. With their backs against the wall, Los Angeles came out with a clean and efficient performance. Just seven turnovers on the night and crucial edge plays all over the court. A decisive run in the third quarter gave the Clippers just enough breathing room, and Denver couldn’t quite claw it back despite a furious final-minute push.
Leonard, Harden, and Powell carried the scoring load, while Powell made key late-game buckets. Denver, meanwhile, saw Jokić start hot with 20 in the first half, but the Clippers clamped down hard after halftime.
Murray added 21 points, and Gordon chipped in 19, but Porter Jr.’s 5-point outing and the Nuggets’ nine free-throw attempts left much to be desired. Missed opportunities, too many empty trips, and those 12 turnovers, all costly.
This series has been razor-thin on margins, and Game 7 figures to follow that trend. Both teams know what’s at stake and have the firepower to go off. The Nuggets have homecourt, the altitude, and one of the best 5s in basketball in Jokić. But the Clippers have been here before, battle-tested and now seemingly peaking.
Prediction? It’s a coin flip. But if Jokić can dominate in the second half, not just early, Denver should have the edge. Expect a tight one, possibly decided by a bucket or two.
Where to Watch:
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- Venue: Ball Arena, Denver, Colorado
- Watch on: TNT, truTV, MAX, NBA League Pass
Let’s be real: If Game 7 is anything like the rest of this series, we’re in for a wild one.
