Woody Paige: Nuggets grab advantage, roll to Game 1 victory | Subscriber Content | denvergazette.com

Game 1 Victory for the Denver Nuggets

The Denver Nuggets defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 112-110 in an overtime thriller, marking a spectacular start to their playoff series. Despite falling behind by as much as 15 points in the first half, the Nuggets rallied to outscore the Clippers in each of the four quarters and overtime.

Key Player Performances

• Nikola Jokic: 29 points, 12 assists, 9 rebounds
• Russell Westbrook: Key contributions off the bench, including a crucial three-pointer.
• Aaron Gordon: 25 points and 8 rebounds.
• Jamal Murray: 21 points and 8 rebounds, playing 48 of 53 minutes despite injury.
• Christian Braun: Made important plays late in overtime, including a game-winning three-pointer.

While Jokic didn't score in overtime, the combined efforts of Westbrook, Gordon, Murray, and Braun proved instrumental in securing the win. The Clippers' Kawhi Leonard (22 points), Ivica Zubac (21 points, 13 rebounds), and James Harden (32 points, 11 assists) put up a strong fight, but ultimately fell short.

Coaching and Team Dynamics

Interim coach David Adelman, undefeated at 4-0 since replacing Michael Malone, praised his team's ability to stay connected during difficult moments. He employed a strategy of playing the best performers at the end of games, which proved effective. Adelman's father, Rick Adelman, a veteran NBA coach, was present and expressed his pride in his son's performance.

Looking Ahead

The article concludes that this is just the beginning of the series, suggesting that while the Nuggets started strong, the Clippers remain a formidable opponent.