Nuggets vs Clippers G6 Preview: Jokic Strives for 4-2 Harden Can He Get Out of the Slump?

At 10 a.m. Beijing time on May 2, the Clippers hosted the Nuggets and started Game 6 of the series. In the first five games, the Nuggets led the Clippers 3-2 in aggregate. Can Ka and Harden equalize the total score and drag the series into a tiebreaker?

Looking back at the G3 battle of the series, the Nuggets lost by 34 points, and the whole team was in an extremely low state and fell into chaos. However, they quickly turned the tide and claimed two wins in quick succession. Now, the Nuggets will be aiming to finish the series at the Clippers' home court.

In the G4 game, the Nuggets won the game with a dunk from Aaron Gordon at the final whistle. Then, in the G5 game, Jamal Murray went all out and scored 43 points to help his team win 131-115 and give the Nuggets a 3-2 lead in the series. Murray made eight three-pointers and turned the arena into his personal shooting showcase. Murray shot 17-of-26 from the field and also contributed seven assists, five rebounds and three steals.

"It's a great feeling to have a night of highlights like this," Nuggets interim head coach David Adelman said, "and we need him so much in a game like this." ”

Murray has scored at least 40 points in a single game six times in his playoff career, a new team record.

"When he's aggressive, our team plays very differently," said Nuggets guard Westbrook, who came off the bench to score 21 points, "and when he plays with that confidence and gives it his all like this one, we're a very hard team to beat." ”

Even though Jokic scored just 13 points on 4-of-13 shooting in this game, the Nuggets took the series lead. However, Jokic contributed 12 assists and 10 rebounds to record his 21st career playoff triple-double.

"It's really tough to limit Jokic to just 13 points and still lose the game, but that's how they beat us," Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue said, "and if you focus too much on him, other players will beat you." I think Jamal Murray has been outstanding. ”

In Game 5, the Clippers' Zubac had a brilliant performance, scoring 27 points on 11-of-15 shooting. Leonard also had a good performance, contributing 20 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds. But the team is hoping that Harden can regain his form in the do-or-die battle of G6.

In the first three games, Harden averaged 23.3 points per game, but in the last two games, his scoring average has dropped to 13 points per game. In Game 5, he scored just 11 points on 3-of-9 shooting.

"I think the Nuggets have made up their minds to limit him in this series," Tyronn Lue said of Harden's predicament, "and they're doing a great job." I've got to find a way to get him more open seats and create space for him. ”

Leonard is known for his stellar playoff appearances, scoring over 20 points in every game in this series, averaging 25.2 points per game. He was the best in Game 2, scoring 39 points on 15-of-19 shooting. The two-time Finals MVP isn't just focused on his score. He's more concerned with keeping the team going through this series.

"Focus on each round, come on the court and try to start the game in good shape," Leonard said, "stay calm, reduce mistakes and play with confidence." ”

The Clippers are looking to avoid a third straight first-round playoff exit. They lost 4-1 to the Suns in 2023 and lost 4-2 to the Mavericks last season. The Nuggets won the NBA championship in 2023 and lost to the Timberwolves in the second round last season.

List of injuries and illnesses

Nuggets: Holmes is out

Clippers: All players are available

ESPN Predicted Win Rate:Nuggets 45.1%, Clippers 54.9%