The Clippers counterattacked, Harden assisted, and Leonard and George teamed up to create the victory
On Dec. 7, a thrilling game unfolded between the Clippers and the Nuggets. In this game, the Clippers hosted the Nuggets, and the two sides have met twice, and the Nuggets have the upper hand with a winning record. However, in this game, the Clippers showed a tenacious fighting spirit and successfully counterattacked to complete revenge against the Nuggets.
In the first quarter, the Nuggets felt hot, shooting five of five three-pointers, leading the Clippers with a perfect start of 21-8. However, in the second quarter, the Clippers suddenly came out of nowhere, playing a 36-12 offensive run to successfully overtake the score and establish a four-point advantage at halftime.
Entering the second half, the game was more intense. Both sides had a lead over their opponents, but the margin remained at around 1 goal throughout. At the critical moment, Clippers main player Harden stepped up, scored the key 5 points and assisted the small card score, and the Clippers established a lead of about 6 points to the end. In the end, the Clippers successfully counterattacked with the power of the home court and defeated the Nuggets to complete revenge.
For the whole game, the Clippers' Harden contributed 20 points, 11 assists and 3 steals. George also has 25 points, eight rebounds and five assists across the board. Kawhi Leonard Jr. also played well, finishing with 17 points, four rebounds and five assists. Zubac had 10 points, nine rebounds and two steals, while Mann also had two points in the net. Tyce came off the bench to contribute eight points and 11 rebounds, and Willis had nine points and eight rebounds. Powell also had 17 points, five rebounds and two assists. Brown had three points and four rebounds.
For the Nuggets, Jokic had a great performance, with a triple-double of 22 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists. Murray also had 23 points and six assists. Gordon had eight points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals, and Porter had 18 points and nine rebounds. Pope had three points and three assists, and Watson contributed two points, three rebounds and three assists. Jordan came off the bench with four points and five rebounds, while Reggie also had 14 points and three assists. Braun had eight points and four rebounds.
In his post-match interview, Leonard said: "We want to be a defensive team first, even though we have a lot of talent on the offensive end. Defense wins championships. His comments show the importance he places on the team's defense and his desire for a championship.
Speaking about his team's performance off the bench, George said: "Willis used his energy to set the tone for the team. I think he's got a lot of energy on a lot of rounds, he's got a lot of rebounds, he's got some shots. That line-up of ours is full of energy. I think it's a big twist in this game. His admiration for Wei Shao was overflowing, and he also fully affirmed the important role of the substitutes in this game.
Speaking about the win, Harden said: "I think the team is showing real quality, it's a process, the season is still long, but we're moving in the right direction. His words expressed both confidence in the future of the team and his joy at the victory.
This game was a big game for the Clippers, who successfully fought back at home and showed the strength and potential of the team. At the same time, this game is also the first appearance of the Clippers' new recruit Wei Shao in an official game, and his outstanding performance also fully proves the strength and depth of the Clippers. For the Nuggets, although they lost on the road, the outstanding performances of core players such as Jokic and Murray also showed the strength and potential of the Nuggets. It was a thrilling matchup, with players from both sides showing great strength and fighting spirit. Although the Clippers eventually won, the Nuggets also showed great strength and potential. I believe that in the future competitions, these two teams will continue to bring us more exciting matchups and surprises.