Clippers falter down the stretch, lose to Nuggets in Game 5 - OCRegister

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And the city of L.A. is still two wins away from a potential Clippers-Lakers showdown in the Western Conference Finals.

The Kawhi Leonard-led Clippers were tantalizingly close to the franchise’s first conference finals berth Friday, when they stormed out to a 16-point lead and held a seven-point advantage entering the fourth quarter.

But Denver, with its now-trademark desperation, denied Coach Doc Rivers’ team the milestone that they hope will be a stepping stone to the ultimate goal. After the Clippers’ 111-105 Game 5 loss Friday to the Nuggets, that end goal, if it’s to happen, remains nine victories away.

• Lou Williams #23 of the LA Clippers and the LA Clippers bench react during the fourth quarter against the Denver Nuggets in Game Five of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at The Field House at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

• Michael Porter Jr. #1 of the Denver Nuggets reacts during the fourth quarter against the LA Clippers in Game Five of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at The Field House at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

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• Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets shoots the ball during the fourth quarter against the LA Clippers in Game Five of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at The Field House at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

• Michael Porter Jr. #1 of the Denver Nuggets defends Montrezl Harrell #5 of the LA Clippers during the fourth quarter in Game Five of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at The Field House at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

• Paul Millsap #4 of the Denver Nuggets fouls Montrezl Harrell #5 of the LA Clippers during the fourth quarter in Game Five of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at The Field House at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

• Mason Plumlee #7 of the Denver Nuggets dunks the ball during the fourth quarter against the LA Clippers in Game Five of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at The Field House at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

• Montrezl Harrell #5 of the LA Clippers reacts against Mason Plumlee #7 of the Denver Nuggets d4 in Game Five of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at The Field House at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

• Marcus Morris Sr. #31 of the LA Clippers and Paul Millsap #4 of the Denver Nuggets get into a scuffle during the second quarter in Game Five of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at The Field House at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

• Montrezl Harrell #5 of the LA Clippers drives to the basket against Michael Porter Jr. #1 of the Denver Nuggets and Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets during the fourth quarter in Game Five of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at The Field House at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

• Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets shoots the ball over Paul George #13 of the LA Clippers during the fourth quarter in Game Five of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at The Field House at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

• Montrezl Harrell #5 of the LA Clippers drives to the basket during the fourth quarter against Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets in Game Five of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at The Field House at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

• Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers dunks over Paul Millsap #4 of the Denver Nuggets during the second quarter in Game Five of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at The Field House at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

• Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets shoots over Ivica Zubac #40 of the LA Clippers and Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers during the third quarter in Game Five of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at The Field House at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

• Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers defends against Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets during the third quarter in Game Five of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at The Field House at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

• Paul George #13 of the LA Clippers shoots the ball as Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets defends during the second quarter in Game Five of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at The Field House at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

• Patrick Beverley #21 of the LA Clippers reacts during the second quarter against the Denver Nuggets in Game Five of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at The Field House at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

• Marcus Morris Sr. #31 of the LA Clippers reacts during the second quarter against the Denver Nuggets in Game Five of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at The Field House at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

• Doc Rivers of the LA Clippers reacts during the third quarter against the Denver Nuggets in Game Five of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at The Field House at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

• Paul Millsap #4 of the Denver Nuggets and Marcus Morris Sr. #31 of the LA Clippers fight for a loose ball during the second quarter in Game Five of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at The Field House at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

• Jerami Grant #9 of the Denver Nuggets and Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets help each other up during the second quarter against the Denver Nuggets in Game Five of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at The Field House at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

• Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers drives the ball against Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets during the third quarter in Game Five of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at The Field House at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

• Paul George #13 of the LA Clippers shoots the ball against the Denver Nuggets during the third quarter in Game Five of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at The Field House at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

• Montrezl Harrell #5 of the LA Clippers reacts during the third quarter against the Denver Nuggets in Game Five of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at The Field House at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

• Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets shoots the ball as Marcus Morris Sr. #31 of the LA Clippers defends during the third quarter in Game Five of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at The Field House at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

• Paul George #13 of the LA Clippers reacts during the second quarter against the Denver Nuggets in Game Five of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at The Field House at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

• Patrick Beverley #21 of the LA Clippers reacts during the second quarter against the Denver Nuggets in Game Five of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at The Field House at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

• JaMychal Green #4 of the LA Clippers uses the Hypervolt Plus on the bench during the third quarter against the Denver Nuggets in Game Five of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at The Field House at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

• Torrey Craig #3 of the Denver Nuggets drives the ball against Landry Shamet #20 of the LA Clippers during the third quarter in Game Five of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at The Field House at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

• Michael Malone of the Denver Nuggets reacts during the second quarter against the LA Clippers in Game Five of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at The Field House at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

• Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers and Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets scramble for a loose ball during the first quarter in Game Five of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at The Field House at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

• Mason Plumlee #7 of the Denver Nuggets drives the ball against Montrezl Harrell #5 of the LA Clippers during the first quarter in Game Five of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at The Field House at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

• Torrey Craig #3 of the Denver Nuggets drives to the basket against JaMychal Green #4 of the LA Clippers during the second quarter in Game Five of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at The Field House at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

• Torrey Craig #3 of the Denver Nuggets fights for possession against Lou Williams #23 of the LA Clippers during the second quarter in Game Five of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at The Field House at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

• Mason Plumlee #7 of the Denver Nuggets drives the ball against Montrezl Harrell #5 of the LA Clippers during the second quarter in Game Five of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at The Field House at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

• Marcus Morris Sr. #31 of the LA Clippers drives to the basket over Paul Millsap #4 of the Denver Nuggets during the first quarterin Game Five of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at The Field House at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

• Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers drives the ball against Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets during the first quarter in Game Five of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at The Field House at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

• Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets shoots the ball over Landry Shamet #20 of the LA Clippers during the first quarter in Game Five of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at The Field House at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

• Paul Millsap #4 of the Denver Nuggets and Marcus Morris Sr. #31 of the LA Clippers and Paul George #13 of the LA Clippers battle for a rebound during the first quarter in Game Five of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at The Field House at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

• Patrick Beverley #21 of the LA Clippers reacts during the first quarter against the Denver Nuggets in Game Five of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at The Field House at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

• Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers defends Gary Harris #14 of the Denver Nuggets during the first quarter in Game Five of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at The Field House at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

• Ivica Zubac #40 of the LA Clippers and Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets during tip-off in Game Five of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at The Field House at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

• The LA Clippers kneel during the national anthem prior to the start of the game against Denver Nuggets in Game Five of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at The Field House at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

• The LA Clippers and Denver Nuggets kneel during the National Anthem in Game Five of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at The Field House at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Already this postseason, Denver proved itself a tough out, rallying from a 3-1 deficit to defeat Utah in the first round. Before the game Friday, Nuggets coach Michael Malone said he hoped his team could find a way back in this series, too — or, at least, to “hang out with Mickey Mouse a little bit longer” at Walt Disney World Resort, where the NBA’s bubble is delivering all brand of drama.

Malone got his wish, as his never-say-die Nuggets forced Game 6 on Sunday (10 a.m., ESPN) with a monstrous 38-point fourth quarter that included a timely barrage of 3-pointers. Denver went 7 for 9 from deep in the final period, while the Clippers hit only 3 of 13 3-point attempts in the final period.

“We’re gonna look at the shots we got and most of them were great shots,” Rivers said. “So what do you do? Tell him he has to make it?”

“They started making shots,” concurred Kawhi Leonard, who was 3 of 7 for 13 points in the fourth quarter, when the Clippers collectively made only 7 of their 25 attempts (28%). “We had some good looks, just didn’t fall.

“And they fought, they fought hard.”

Michael Porter Jr. certainly showed fight. The rookie forward who twice was passed on in the 2018 NBA Draft by the Clippers and who, much more recently, had drawn ire for publicly criticizing the team’s offensive strategy after Wednesday’s loss, delivered.

He had a series of big moments as he played the entirety of the fourth quarter and contributed seven points, three rebounds and an assist and a timely block on Ivica Zubac (five points, nine rebounds) that preserved a five-point lead with 36 seconds to go.

The Nuggets’ star center, Nikola Jokic, clearly wasn’t ready to exit the bubble yet either, making all four of his shots and both of his 3-point attempts in the final period for 11 of his 22 points.

His co-star Jamal Murray finished with 26 points — including nine in the final period. It was just the second time he managed to score more than 20 points against the Clippers this series, in which they’ve swarmed him with a variety of defenders.

Veteran Paul Millsap also gave the Nuggets a lift with a playoff-high 17 points.

It all squandered another magnificent effort from Leonard, who had nine rebounds, four assists, three steals and shot 12 for 24 en route to his seventh game these playoffs with at least 30 points — moving him into a tie for the franchise record with Bob McAdoo for the most 30-points-or-more games in one postseason.

History in the postseason isn’t exactly on the Clippers’ side, as many of the team’s long-suffering fans remember too well.

No Clippers team in the organization’s previous 49 seasons advanced past the conference semifinals, though L.A. was close in 2015. None of the current Clippers players were on the roster when Rivers’ squad led its series against Houston 3-1 and had a 19-point third-quarter lead and a 13-point advantage entering the fourth of what looked like a brewing closeout victory in Game 6.

At least until the Rockets rallied for the 119-107 victory — and then the series victory, 4-3.

But then there’s Leonard’s much-more illustrious personal playoff history, including NBA titles with San Antonio and Toronto and two NBA Finals MVP awards that went with them. The ever-collected Moreno Valley native wasn’t going to be tipped off kilter by one tough fourth-quarter stumble.

After the loss — in which Paul George had 26 points, Marcus Morris Sr. had 12, Patrick Beverley had 10, but Lou Williams was limited to 4 points on 2-for-10 shooting — Leonard repeated the sentiments he’s spent so much of this unusual season sharing.

“It’s a learning lesson,” he said. “Stay even-keel, enjoy the moment and just come out and be prepared to play another hard-fought game.”

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Clippers falter down the stretch, lose to Nuggets in Game 5 - OCRegister
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