![]() The Clippers made one of their final 10 three-pointers. Wearing what he called “Johnny Cash black” sideline apparel, Denver coach Mike Malone watched as his team didn’t allow the Clippers to score a field goal in the final quarter until five minutes remained. ![]() “We are just not accepting that somebody’s better than us,” Jokic said. Denver, whose core was playing in a fourth consecutive Game 7 and seemed to feed off its experience, actually did. After making five of its first six three-pointers of the second half, Denver led by eight, just 14 minutes from the conference finals. This time, their 12-point lead four minutes before halftime was unwound within seven minutes. Harrell’s offensive energy didn’t translate defensively, where he yet again struggled.ĭéjà vu hit hardest, however, when a double-digit lead began slipping away. Opportunities for easy baskets dried up - Denver’s 20 turnovers yielded only 15 points. Rivers made staying out of foul trouble a top priority, yet three quick fouls were called on George and center Ivica Zubac. Yet the Clippers weren’t free from their flaws. Missing in action for most the series, the bench made its first seven shots, with Williams finding a cutting Montrezl Harrell for baskets like it was January. Double teams on Jokic held the 7-footer to four shots in the first half. On many moments to start, the Clippers looked it. Standing in the middle of his locker room before tipoff, he reiterated the message. Rivers’ experience in deciding games had taught him the “whole thing” was making players feel free. “But we didn’t meet our expectations, clearly, because if we had, in my opinion, we’d still be playing.” “I’m the coach and I’ll take any blame for it,” said Doc Rivers, who has coached the most Game 7 losses in NBA history (eight), and the most blown 3-1 leads (three) too. They were outscored 50-33 in the second half Tuesday. The Clippers lost their final three games after leading by 16, 19 and 12 points, respectively. The answer, as seen throughout this series, was a resounding no. Yet all season, there was an unanswered question about how they would get there: Could the Clippers blend their grit from the previous season with the talent of their current roster? Leonard scored 14 points, making six of 22 shots, and George added 10 points, making four of 16.Īll season, the West finals had been predicted to feature the Lakers and Clippers - teams that share an arena, and championship ambitions this season, but never faced one another in the postseason. Gone too went perhaps the franchise’s best chance to win a title after the celebrated offseason additions of Kawhi Leonard, a two-time Finals most valuable player, and George, a former MVP candidate.Ĭarrying expectations of leading the Clippers to unprecedented heights all season, they instead were unable to rescue them from hitting this season’s nadir. It wasn’t only a 3-1 series lead that was blown. The 104-89 loss marked their third consecutive game losing a double-digit lead and the latest, disastrous chapter to the franchise’s 50-year history of playoff misery. “We’re pissed off,” guard Lou Williams said.Īssembled 14 months ago with an explicit goal of winning a championship, the Clippers’ star-studded roster instead fell apart in stunning fashion in Game 7 of their Western Conference semifinal against Denver. Wordless, and with thousand-yard stares, the Clippers left the court quietly Tuesday night. The hugs were quick, the goodbyes brief, the exit silent.
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