Russell Westbrook drains crucial shot as Nuggets come back for Game 1 win over Clippers

Bennett Durando, The Denver Post on Apr 19, 2025

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DENVER — Playoff basketball in Denver started with a pickaxe fight.

The Nuggets chipped and chipped away at a 15-point deficit all afternoon until Game 1 suddenly came down to a single possession, and then five more minutes, because somehow this season, it always finds a way to.

The Nuggets emerged with a 112-110 Game 1 overtime win over the Los Angeles Clippers after Nikola Jokic iced it with a pair of free throws with 6.5 seconds left. Russell Westbrook had made the decisive defensive play, knocking Nicolas Batum’s inbound pass out of bounds off James Harden to force a turnover in a three-point game.

Regulation ended with the comprehensive Westbrook experience. He was closing over Michael Porter Jr., and the Nuggets needed a boost in the last minute. Los Angeles had taken a one-point lead after Nikola Jokic shockingly missed two foul shots. But Denver had one more chance — Jamal Murray poke-checked the ball off Kawhi Leonard to force a turnover.

Westbrook is a notorious spacing liability, but he shot 42.5% from the corners this season. When he has shot it in rhythm, off the catch, he has been reliable.

So even if it’s what the Clippers wanted, Jokic found him. The 36-year-old delivered with a corner 3, giving Denver a 98-96 lead.

“I think the turnovers are down (recently) because we’re just shooting the ball,” interim coach David Adelman had said before the game. “I really mean that. It sounds boring, but if you create a great shot, shoot it. Don’t drive it back into Kawhi Leonard.”

Russ giveth and taketh, though. The Nuggets have understood and accepted that all year. They lived with the results when he dribbled into nothing on the ensuing possession, resulting in no shot as time expired. Harden had scored a game-tying bucket with 19 seconds left.

Jokic went for 29 points, nine rebounds and 12 assists in his first playoff game without Michael Malone as his coach. None of it was easy against the Clippers’ stout defense, led by Ivica Zubac on the block. Harden led Los Angeles with 32 points and 11 assists, while Zubac added a 21-point double-double.

But the Nuggets got crucial help across the board when they needed it. Christian Braun buried a 3-pointer with 59 seconds to go in overtime, giving them a four-point advantage. Aaron Gordon scored 25 points. Jamal Murray contributed 21, along with nine boards and seven assists, in the kind of slow-paced, short-on-scoring slugfest that is characteristic of the NBA playoffs.

If the fourth and fifth seeds in the Western Conference are as evenly matched as Saturday indicated, prepare for six more similar chapters in this first-round series.

First, the Nuggets offered a reminder of their season-long defensive inadequacy. Harden carved them up in pick-and-rolls for the entire first quarter. Jokic didn’t cause any stress with his lackluster coverage at the level of the screen. Harden calmly found Zubac on the short roll, and a cutting Kris Dunn was often available on the baseline after Denver brought help to Zubac. Other times, with Aaron Gordon guarding Harden, the smaller and shiftier guard comfortably got downhill for layups.

By the end of the first quarter, The Beard was comfortable enough to drain consecutive tough step-back 3s over Christian Braun, pouring cold water on a 10-0 Nuggets run. He had scored 15 already.

Denver sprinkled in zone looks with varying returns. One attempt out of a timeout ended poorly when Kawhi Leonard drove past Jokic for an easy baseline dunk. Still, the defense slowly settled in as Adelman went to more standard matchups. Jokic didn’t get caught in no-man’s land quite as often. Braun intercepted a pair of passes and returned both for touchdowns. Harden went into halftime with three fouls after a scoreless second frame.

Another strong close to a quarter by the hosts — 11 unanswered this time — made a shaky half feel not so bleak. Once down 15, they were back within four.

But they needed their second- and third-leading scorers, both of whom were stuck in neutral. Murray had appeared hobbled at one point after trying to defend Leonard on a fast break. He emerged from the locker room playing more aggressively, even if most of his shots weren’t falling.

“He’s great,” Adelman said of Murray’s health before opening tip. “He looks great. I feel great about him looking great. … I just think the higher the tension, the better off he is. We know it’s gonna be a challenge, all the guys they’re gonna throw on him. So we can help him out, but I’m expecting a high level of play from Jamal.”

Meanwhile, Porter never scored after hitting a corner 3-pointer on Denver’s first possession of the series. The Clippers helped off other, lesser shooters and stayed home on him throughout the afternoon. Adelman turned instead to Westbrook for defense and energy in the fourth quarter.

The ex-Clipper snatched an offensive rebound with 3:37 to go and converted the second chance to give Denver its first lead since the first quarter. He scored seven points in the last four minutes of regulation.

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