Could the Nuggets start the game better? Difficult, as they dominated the Clippers in the first quarter. With a weapon: the 3-point shoot. Nikola Jokic lights the fuse, Michael Porter Jr. spreads the fire and the reigning champions end this first act with a superb 8/10 in the exercise. Obviously, Los Angeles is stunned (21-36).
The second quarter reverses the trends. The Clippers find skill when Denver falls. Tyronn Lue's troops, thanks to a 16-2, took the lead at half-time (61-57). The Nuggets continue to struggle after the break, with Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray confiscating possessions and trying their luck a lot. The leader finds the target, the pivot much less so. But it holds up for Denver (79-82).
Everything will therefore be decided in the last quarter. Paul George and Russell Westbrook start the Clippers, facing the Denver bench. James Harden, with his passes, and Kawhi Leonard, with a few baskets, ensured the victory of the Californians (111-102), the second in a row, while the reigning champion did not find the solutions, stuck in the clumsiness of his double MVP.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– Bad evening for Nikola Jokic. It is rare to see the MVP of the 2023 Finals take so many shots (32) but even rarer to see him miss so many as well (23 misses)… The Serbian was off to a good start with his 3-point missiles, but he missed an incredible amount of shots near the rim, one-handed. His 1/7 in the last quarter obviously didn't help in trying to win. In the other sectors, Nikola Jokic did his job with 15 rebounds and 10 assists, but his 22 points at 9/32 shooting (plus four lost balls) clearly darken the picture.
– The decisive Clippers stars. While Nikola Jokic was struggling, the Los Angeles stars succeeded in their last quarter. Paul George and Russell Westbrook carried the Clippers at the start, the first with his shots, the second with his energy. Then, James Harden made his contribution before Kawhi Leonard took advantage of his duel against Jamal Murray. Result: 26 of Los Angeles' 32 points in the last quarter for this quartet.
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
