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Nuggets Exec Says 'No Way We're Even in a Game 7' Without Firing HC Malone, GM Booth

Scott Polacek
May 4, 2025
2025 NBA Playoffs - Denver Nuggets v Los Angeles Clippers - Game Seven

The Denver Nuggets shocked the NBA world when they fired head coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth with just three games remaining in the regular season, but it may be paying off.

"If we don't make the changes, there's no way we're even in a Game 7," a Nuggets executive said after the team's 120-101 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers in Saturday's decisive contest of their first-round playoff series, per ESPN's Ramona Shelburne.

Big man Nikola Jokić echoed some of those sentiments.

"I think the owner ... wanted to change something, to change the energy, and probably he did," he said of Nuggets governor Stan Kroenke. "He got the result he was looking for."

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That Denver outlasted the Clippers in seven games may have come as a surprise to some, as Los Angeles went 18-3 in its final 21 regular-season games ahead of the playoffs. By comparison, Denver lost four in a row before firing Malone and Booth and seemed to be playing out the string to a disappointing campaign.

Yet the shocking moves may have lit a fire under the team, as it is the Nuggets and not the Clippers advancing to the second round to face the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder.

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Jokić impacted the game in a number of ways like he always does with a near triple-double of 16 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists and three steals, but it was far from a one-man show as Denver cruised past Kawhi Leonard, James Harden and Co.

Six Nuggets scored at least 15 points with Russell Westbrook (16 points, five rebounds, five assists and five steals) providing a lift off the bench and Aaron Gordon scoring a team-high 22 points. Throw in 21 points from Christian Braun, and the supporting cast played a major role in the Game 7 triumph.

That group will need to be equally dialed in against the Thunder if Denver is going to continue the momentum it has built since the shocking firings.

Nuggets HC Says Jamal Murray Was 'Born For' Big Moments After 43 Points vs. Clippers

Adam Wells
Apr 30, 2025
2025 NBA Playoffs - Denver Nuggets v Los Angeles Clippers - Game Four

After escaping with two wins in the first four games of their Western Conference playoff series, the Denver Nuggets had their best showing against the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 5 on Tuesday night thanks to Jamal Murray's 43-point night.

Following the Nuggets' 131-115 win, head coach David Adelman told reporters that Murray was "born for" these types of big moments.

"These big moments, these situations. He was born for this," Adelman said. "You can kind of tell the way the ball comes off his hand on certain nights. I thought he had a great lift on his jump shot. ...When it's flowing like that, it's the guy that's won us so many playoff games in the past."

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There was some concern about Denver's prospects entering the postseason in part because of Murray's health. He missed six straight games toward the end of the regular season due to a hamstring injury.

Murray was inconsistent in the first four games against the Clippers. He shot under 40 percent from the field in Games 1 and 3, though interestingly Denver won both games. He averaged 23.0 points on 53.1 percent shooting in their losses in Games 2 and 3.

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Tuesday marked the first time Murray looked like he did during the 2023 postseason to help the Nuggets win the NBA title. The 28-year-old shot 17-of-26 from the field and his eight threes were his most in a playoff game since 2020.

Murray now has as many 40-point games in the playoffs as he does in the regular season.

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This also helped make up for what was Nikola Jokić's worst game of the series. The three-time NBA MVP still had a triple-double in Game 5 with 13 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds, but he shot just 4-of-13 in 37 minutes.

Thanks to the stellar efforts of Murray, the Nuggets are one win away from advancing to the Western Conference semifinals. They can close out the series in Game 6 at the Intuit Dome on Thursday at 10 p.m. ET.

Michael Porter Jr. Not Suspended for Leaving Bench During Nuggets-Clippers Skirmish

Adam Wells
Apr 29, 2025
Denver Nuggets v Sacramento Kings

Despite leaving the bench during the skirmish late in the first half of Saturday's thrilling 101-99 win over the Los Angeles Clippers, Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. won't be suspended for Game 5.

Per The Athletic's Law Murray, an NBA spokesperson confirmed the league won't suspend Porter.

The incident occurred near the end of the second quarter when Aaron Gordon and James Harden started the skirmish that wound up resulting in a total of six technical fouls being assessed between the two teams.

Porter left the bench to get involved in the fracas when he got grabbed by a Nuggets coach.

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Porter was never that close to where the situation was happening, but he did make it from the bench into the paint area under the basket.

The NBA's official rulebook states that during any altercation, "all players not participating in the game must remain in the immediate vicinity of their bench."

Any violations of the rule are "subject to suspension, without pay, for a minimum of one game and fined up to $50,000."

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Speaking to reporters after the game, Porter explained he was unfamiliar with the rule and felt like he didn't make it that far onto the court before praising the efforts of the coaches who got him back to the bench area.

"I didn’t know the specific rule. I didn’t make it very far," Porter said. “That’s what a team is for. That’s what the coaches are for, to pull you back. It’s an intense game, an intense moment. I’d had a double foul with Powell earlier. And then to see my guys get in it like that, I’m just glad I didn’t make it very far and that the coaches and my teammates were aware."

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It's the NBA's discretion to determine what constitutes the "immediate vicinity" of the bench area.

Ultimately, the finish to Game 4 was an all-timer that significantly overshadowed everything else in the game, including the skirmish.

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Gordon, one of the six players who received a technical foul at the end of the first half, scored the game-winning bucket on a putback dunk off a Nikola Jokić miss when the ball left Gordon's fingertips at the absolute last possible second before the buzzer went off.

Game 4 was a terrific bounce-back effort from Porter, who was a non-factor in the previous game with just seven points in 35 minutes. He scored 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting in 42 minutes on Saturday.

If the Nuggets are going to win this series, they need Porter to keep playing at that level.

With the series tied 2-2 after Gordon's heroics, the Clippers and Nuggets will play the pivotal Game 5 at Ball Arena on Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET.

Aaron Gordon, Nikola Jokic React to Buzzer-Beating Dunk vs. Harden, Kawhi, Clippers

Joseph Zucker
Apr 27, 2025
2025 NBA Playoffs - Denver Nuggets v Los Angeles Clippers - Game Four

Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokić was too busy thinking about overtime to get excited in the moment by Aaron Gordon's late-game heroics in a 101-99 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.

Gordon pulled off one of the most stunning buzzer-beaters in recent memory when he slammed home a missed shot by Jokić as time expired.

Jokić was surprisingly subdued on the bench as officials confirmed the bucket was good.

"I didn't want to have excitement and then go down," he told reporters after the game. "So I was just like, 'Keep calm.' Because I didn't know what happened, to be honest. I thought it was close ... really close."

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Gordon quipped the three-time MVP made "a nice pass" with the wayward shot attempt.

Gordon beat a hasty retreat immediately after the game ended. He ran off the court and was halfway down the tunnel before returning to see the result of the official review.

"I thought the game was over, so I was just trying to get off the court and into the locker room," he said. "It was so close. When it comes down to it, I'm just happy that we won the game. I thought we showed a lot of heart today."

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Some fans immediately thought of Lorenzo Charles lifting North Carolina State to a national championship in 1983 in the exact same circumstances. Jokić also pointed to a 2010 EuroLeague game where Miloš Teodosić and Josh Childress combined to help Olympiacos force overtime against Partizan Belgrade.

Perhaps Gordon's dunk will be a turning point in this series, which is even at two games apiece. The Nuggets nearly squandered a 22-point lead, and going down 3-1 would've been a near-fatal blow to their hopes of advancing.

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"We have to figure out a way to win two more games," Jokić said. "I thought we were really good in the first half. When we went into halftime, we told each other that we were close. The momentum we had going into the second half led to the 20-point lead. I'm glad we had that lead."

The teams head back to Denver for Game 5 on Tuesday.

Russell Westbrook Reportedly Out for Nuggets vs. Clippers Game 4 with Foot Injury

Taylyn Hadley
Apr 26, 2025
2025 NBA Playoffs - Denver Nuggets v Los Angeles Clippers - Game Three

Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook is out for Game 4 against the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday with a foot injury, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.

The Nuggets trail the Clippers 2-1 in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

After winning their first game of the series against the Clippers, 112-110 at home, the Nuggets dropped two straight games — 105-102 on Monday and a 117-82 blowout loss on Thursday.

Westbrook exited the Nuggets’ game on Thursday midway through the second quarter after rolling his foot during warmups and attempting to play through the pain before being pulled.

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In addition to Westbrook, forward Michael Porter Jr. injured his shoulder on his non-shooting arm while diving for a loose ball during the team’s game on Monday.

Despite the injury, Porter Jr. played on Thursday and will be available again on Saturday.

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"They say it's normally a four, five-week injury. I mean, you use your shoulder for everything. It was tough to rebound. Tough to bring it up to shoot. It was probably like 20-30 percent. I couldn't really use it," Porter Jr. told reporters after Thursday's loss. "If I can, I will. If it's still in the place like it is today and I don't feel like I can even bring any help to the team at all, then there's no point in trying to go out there."

In three postseason games, Westbrook has averaged 10.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.7 steals while shooting 33.3 percent from the field off the bench.

Jamal Murray Praises Russell Westbrook After Nuggets' Win vs. James Harden, Clippers

Joseph Zucker
Apr 20, 2025
Brooklyn Nets v Denver Nuggets

Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook drew strong praise from teammate Jamal Murray after the team's 112-110 win over the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round of the 2025 NBA playoffs.

Westbrook hit a go-ahead three-pointer inside the final minute of regulation. While the Nuggets' lead didn't hold, his late-game heroics were critical toward getting to overcome and eventually securing the victory.

"I don't think it was just that three, though," Murray told reporters. "He makes a lot of winning plays, stuff that doesn't show up in the stat sheet. I don't just watch the shots that he makes. He was 5-of-17 and it doesn't matter to me."

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As Murray referenced, Westbrook didn't have an efficient shooting night but finished with 15 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals. Denver was plus-eight in his 34 minutes on the floor.

That had to feel like an affirming performance for the nine-time All-Star, who was presented as a somewhat divisive figure internally in a postmortem of Denver's firing of head coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth.

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The Athletic's Sam Amick and Tony Jones reported on April 10 that Malone suffered "a loss of credibility among the team's key players" in how he handled Westbrook. Some inside the locker room thought the coach was being a little too deferential and not holding Russ to account enough.

Amick and Jones went on to report Westbrook has an "uncertain" future in the Mile High City since he can opt out and hit free agency in the summer.

We're too deep into Westbrook's career to think he'll ever change his playing style. Sometimes that works to the benefit of his team, as it did for Denver in Game 1. If history has taught us anything, his singular approach will also cause some headaches later in the series.

Jokic, Westbrook, Nuggets Beat Harden, Clippers in OT in Game 1 to Thrill NBA Fans

Paul Kasabian
Apr 19, 2025
DENVER NUGGETS VS LA CLIPPERS, NBA

Nikola Jokić's near-triple double and Russell Westbrook's clutch plays on both ends propelled the Denver Nuggets to a 112-110 home win over the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 1 of their NBA Western Conference first-round playoff series.

Jokić finished with 29 points, 12 assists, nine rebounds and three steals to lead the No. 4 seed Nuggets, who warded off a tremendous 32-point, 11-assist effort from James Harden for the No. 5 seed Clippers.

Westbrook, who finished with 15 points and eight rebounds off the bench, hit a clutch wide-open three with 24 seconds left in regulation for a 98-96 advantage.

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After the Clippers forced OT, Westbrook then made a huge defensive play with 10 seconds left in the extra session and Denver up 110-107, forcing a turnover after deflecting Nicolas Batum's inbounds pass off Harden and out-of-bounds.

This was a tremendous game that got to OT after Harden hit a short floater for the 98-all tie.

In OT, Denver guard Christian Braun hit a clutch three with one minute left to give Denver a 108-104 lead, but Harden later responded with a three of his own to cut the Nugget edge to 108-107 with 28 seconds remaining.

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On the other end, Harden blocked a Russell Westbrook layup, but Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon grabbed the offensive rebound. He was fouled but made two free throws for a 110-107 edge. Gordon finished with 25 points and eight boards.

Those free throws led to the Westbrook play, but Jokić then got fouled and hit two free throws to seal this one. A Norman Powell three in the final second was too little and too late, and the Nuggets took Game 1.

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This was an incredible comeback for the Nuggets, who were once down 15 points in the second quarter but rallied all the way back against a Clippers team that also featured Kawhi Leonard's 22 points and Ivica Zubac's 21 points and 13 rebounds.

Denver has gone through some adversity of late with the team deciding to part ways with head coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth on April 8, but on this day, Jokić's amazing play, Westbrook's heroics and Gordon's clutch scoring got it done.

This series looks like a potential classic, and Game 2 will go down Monday evening in Denver's Ball Arena at 10 p.m. ET.

Nikola Jokic Reportedly Gave Speech to Nuggets Teammates Ahead of 2025 NBA Playoffs

Paul Kasabian
Apr 19, 2025
Denver Nuggets v Houston Rockets

Denver Nuggets superstar center Nikola Jokić reportedly gave a speech to his teammates after the team parted ways with head coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth.

ESPN's Shams Charania provided information regarding the matter on NBA Countdown Saturday, when Denver began its first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Clippers.

"Shortly after Josh Kroenke, their owner, informed the team that they were dismissing Michael Malone as head coach and Calvin Booth as general manager, I'm told Nikola Jokic spoke to his teammates, told them we have goals this season, this year is not over. We have to stay together as a unit and get the job done," Charania reported.

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"And for Nikola Jokić to speak up like that, sources in Denver tell me that they see a player that's fully comfortable now in his voice, they see a player that understands his power now not only to yield it but to also influence his teammates and impact his teammates and show them that, 'Listen, there's a reason why I'm speaking up. I feel like we have a shot.'

"One person in Denver told me if Nikola Jokić felt like we didn't have a real shot, we wouldn't be hearing from him like this."

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Two years ago today, Denver was gearing up for an eventual NBA championship run, with Malone at the helm. Now Malone is gone, and the Nuggets have taken a clear step back in two seasons.

That isn't the case for Jokić, though, who just became the first big man (and third overall player) to average a triple-double over an NBA regular season.

With him at the helm, it seems like anything as possible, even if Denver had its share of struggles and just turned over its leadership with three games left in the regular season.

We'll see what happens soon enough as a team that's undergone its fair share of adversity embarks on a playoff run.

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