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Los Angeles Clippers’ Patrick Beverley (21) reacts with teammate Marcus Morris Sr. (31) after being ejected during the second half of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game against the Denver Nuggets Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The Nuggets won 110-101. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Denver Nuggets’ Jamal Murray is fouled by Los Angeles Clippers’ Patrick Beverley, center, during the second half of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The Nuggets won 110-101. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Los Angeles Clippers’ Patrick Beverley (21) reacts with teammate Marcus Morris Sr. (31) after being ejected during the second half of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game against the Denver Nuggets Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The Nuggets won 110-101. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Los Angeles Clippers’ Patrick Beverley (21) reacts to a call by referee Pat Fraher (26) during the second half of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game against the Denver Nuggets Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Beverley was ejected from the game. The Nuggets won 110-101. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Denver Nuggets’ Jerami Grant (9), Gary Harris (14) and Paul Millsap (4) celebrate at the end of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The Nuggets won 110-101. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Los Angeles Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard drives up court during the second half of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game against the Denver Nuggets Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The Nuggets won 110-101. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Denver Nuggets’ Jamal Murray, from left, Jerami Grant (9), Paul Millsap (4) and Gary Harris (14) celebrate at the end of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The Nuggets won 110-101. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone reacts to a call during the second half of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Denver Nuggets’ Jamal Murray (27) drives past Los Angeles Clippers’ Paul George (13) during the second half of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Los Angeles Clippers’ Paul George (13) drives to the basket between Denver Nuggets’ Jamal Murray (27), Michael Porter Jr. (1) and Mason Plumlee (7) during the first half of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Denver Nuggets players celebrate at the end of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The Nuggets won 110-101.(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Denver Nuggets’ Paul Millsap (4) reacts between Los Angeles Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard (2) and Marcus Morris Sr., right, during the first half of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Los Angeles Clippers’ JaMychal Green (4) fights for a loose ball with Denver Nuggets’ Jerami Grant (9) during the second half of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Los Angeles Clippers’ Marcus Morris Sr. kisses a baby at the end of the first half of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game against the Denver Nuggets Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Denver Nuggets’ Paul Millsap drives around Los Angeles Clippers’ JaMychal Green, left, during the second half of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers reacts to a call during the first half of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game against the Denver Nuggets Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Denver Nuggets’ Torrey Craig (3) fights for a loose ball with Los Angeles Clippers’ Paul George, right, during the second half of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Denver Nuggets’ Gary Harris, left, is fouled by Los Angeles Clippers’ Paul George (13) during the second half of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Los Angeles Clippers’ JaMychal Green (4) fights for a loose ball with Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic (15) and Jerami Grant, right, during the second half of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Los Angeles Clippers’ JaMychal Green (4) reacts to a call during the second half of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game against the Denver Nuggets Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Los Angeles Clippers’ JaMychal Green (4) fights for a loose ball with Denver Nuggets’ Jerami Grant (9) during the second half of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Los Angeles Clippers’ Lou Williams (23) drives to the basket ahead of Denver Nuggets’ Gary Harris, left, during the second half of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Denver Nuggets’ Torrey Craig (3) fights for a loose ball with Los Angeles Clippers’ Paul George (13) during the second half of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Los Angeles Clippers’ Montrezl Harrell (5) drives to the basket ahead of Denver Nuggets’ Michael Porter Jr. (1) during the second half of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Denver Nuggets’ Torrey Craig (3) fights for a loose ball with Los Angeles Clippers’ Paul George, right, during the second half of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic (15) shoots over Los Angeles Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard (2) during the second half of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Denver Nuggets’ Paul Millsap drives around Los Angeles Clippers’ JaMychal Green, left, during the second half of an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Clippers might have arrived at the gym Saturday with some pep in their steps, fresh off a convincing Game 1 victory, Montrezl Harrell’s Sixth Man of the Year award, having just welcomed family members into their bubble.
But Doc Rivers was wary of the potential countereffects of such good fortune.
Before his team stepped on the court in Game 2 of their Western Conference semifinal series against Denver began Saturday, the veteran coach noted that the Clippers needed to keep their edge against a Nuggets team that would have its legs under them this time.
And, boy, did Denver come out swinging, beating the Clippers 110-101. With restored energy and aggression, now four days removed from their emotional Game 7 victory over Utah, the Nuggets roared to a 44-25 lead in the first quarter Saturday. They made 17 of 24 shots in the first period, and the Clippers, caught flat-footed, never recovered.
“I thought they just played more aggressive, they got into us the entire game,” Rivers said. “And offensively we just refused to move the ball and make simple plays. As beautiful as we moved the ball in Game 1, we did the exact opposite in Game 2.”
The Clippers outscored Denver the rest of the way, 76-66, and held Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic — who combined for 44 first-half points — to just nine points after halftime.
But L.A. never could get over the hump, never tasted the lead, and the Nuggets evened the best-of-seven series, 1-1.
The Clippers shot just 40.9% from the field, their lowest field-goal percentage of the playoffs so far.
After scoring 29 points or more in each of the Clippers seven postseason games so far, Kawhi Leonard was limited to just 13 on 4-of-17 shooting Saturday.
Paul George led the Clippers with 22 points, but he shot just 7 for 19.
JaMychal Green’s played with his typical vigor off the bench, collecting a postseason-career-high 11 rebounds to go with 10 points on 4 for 6 shooting.
And Ivica Zubac was the team’s second-leading scorer with 15, but he was beating himself up after the loss for letting the Nuggets’ talented center Jokic get going so well early on.
“It’s tough, he’s one of the better offensive players in this league, he’s got a lot of moves and can shoot it from outside,” Zubac said. “But I didn’t start out the game right defensively. I allowed them to get the ball easy in the post. I was not physical with him like I’m supposed to. I’ve got to do a better job getting over the pin-downs and cross-screens. Overall, I didn’t do a good job defensively tonight.”
“I’m going to watch the film and see where I can get better and I’m going to bring it next game.”
That was the theme for the Clippers postgame: ’Tis the season for adjustments, which will beget more adjustments.
“It’s playoffs,” said George, who added eight rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks Saturday. “It’s a game of adjustments at this point. They made the adjustments from Game 1. It’s no surprise … that they are going to make the adjustment.
“We just got to be better going into Game 3.”
The Clippers continually chipped away Saturday, and they got within seven points with 2:37 to go when Marcus Morris Sr.’s first basket — a 3-pointer — cut the lead to 101-94.
But, keeping with the evening’s theme, the Nuggets had an answer: a Gary Harris 3-pointer, one of four Saturday by the 25-year-old guard who was a 33.3% 3-pointer shooter this season.
Lou Williams (13 points) pulled the Clippers back a bit again when danced inside for a bucket to make it 104-96.
The Nuggets’ response: another Gary Harris 3-pointer, which pushed the lead back to 11 and just 1:38 on the clock.
Morris canned a tough 3-pointer to make it 107-99 just before Patrick Beverley drew consecutive technical fouls and was ejected for arguing a call with 1:04, leaving the court to regroup shortly before his teammates.
“We got ourselves in a 20-point hole early,” said Leonard, who had 10 rebounds and eight of the Clippers’ 20 assists. “We can’t do that if want to try to win these playoff games. A lot of shots didn’t fall for us, some easy ones, some good looks, but give the Nuggets credit. They came in very aggressive tonight on both ends and they played well at the end of the game.”
Clippers stumble, lose Game 2 to Denver posted first on https://anaheimsignsorangecounty.blogspot.com
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