Clippers Come Alive, Roll Nuggets in Game Three

It seems that home is truly where the heart is. For the Clippers, at least. The second LA team, after splitting the first two games of their series against the Nuggets, got to play game three in front of their home crowd to impressive results.

They had a ton of energy, played strong ball up and down the roster, and never once faltered.

(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

The team looked exactly like the one fans have envisioned for a few years now, with the big superstars taking over the game and the role players all stepping up at the right time.

One win hardly means much over an entire playoff series. Even so, game three definitely shifted momentum in the Clippers’ direction. It’s hard to ask for more than that.

Home Court Advantage

After two tight contests in Denver, it seemed that game three could go to anyone. Los Angeles had a chance to win in front of their home crowd, but the Nuggets are a well-built team capable of winning on any given night.

Both teams also seemed evenly matched, with the first two games coming down to the wire. That was not the case in game three.

In game three, the Clippers flipped a switch and the Nuggets simply couldn’t keep up

Los Angeles absolutely exploded out of the gates. They won the first quarter by seven points, the second quarter by 11 points, and never looked back from there.

They had the Nuggets number all night long, stopping or outscoring them at every turn on their way to a 117-83 victory.

It was an impressive effort all around, and one that was quite surprising given the previous two contests. Even so, one thing was clear: a healthy Clippers’ team is a force to reckon with.

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The Big Two

For fans in Los Angeles, there were many things to like about the victory. The well-rounded team play is something the Clippers have been struggling with all year.

They also played strong defense and did a good job of setting up (and finding) good shots.

Kawhi Leonard was also phenomenal, once again. The strong guard has a habit of showing up in big games, and this postseason he’s showing why so many consider him to be a true superstar.

He doesn’t just play hard on both sides of the ball, his presence wins games

In the latest contest, he put up 21 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists. While that’s not the craziest statline, it reveals what Leonard brings to the team.

He’s not just a pure scorer, he can do a little bit of everything in a way that helps out the rest of the squad.

James Harden had a solid 20 point night as well

He might not be the explosive scorer he used to be, but he’s still a knock down threat that opposing defenses need to keep an eye on.

That, as shown in game three, is a big reason why the Clippers are so hard to guard. They have multiple options, and all of them can succeed.

“Me being aggressive is not just scoring,” Harden said of his effort. “It’s facilitating, it’s doing other things. I got some shots to fall early, and that kinda got the guys rallied up…Everybody shots.”

Two Key Factors

Harden and Leonard are the heartbeat of the current Clippers team. They are going to get all of the media attention, as well as praise for the victory.

Even so, Norman Powell (20 points) and Ivica Zubac (19 points) stepped up in big ways too

They each contributed to game three, and are a large reason for the Clippers’ sudden surge.

Nikola Jocic could well be the best player in the world, but Zubac has met him so far in the series blow for blow. The Clippers’ center is playing at an extremely high level, and it’s paying huge dividends for the entire team.

While he’s putting up a lot of points, not to mention grabbing plenty of rebounds, he’s also a force in the middle of the paint. Jokic is still putting up his numbers (23/13/13) but there’s no doubt that Zubac’s presence matters quite a bit.

In addition, Powell seemed to have woken up after two lackluster games

His scoring has been a huge boon for Los Angeles this year. If he can keep it going, it’s going to create even more problems for a Nuggets team that already seems stretched pretty thin on defense.

There’s no telling how game four will go, but the ball is now in the Clippers’ court. They get to play another one in front of their home crowd.

If they come away with a victory, it might just give them enough momentum to close things out in game five.