Nuggets Beat Clippers, Set to Face Thunder

The Denver Nuggets advanced to the Western Conference Semifinals with a decisive 120-101 Game 7 win over the Los Angeles Clippers, marking their first playoff victory over a 50-win opponent in the Nikola Jokic era. Nikola Jokic posted a near triple-double and now trails only LeBron James in leading his team in points, rebounds, and assists for a playoff series. Russell Westbrook, who shot 41.9% from three-point range in the series, mocked the Clippers' defensive approach of leaving him open. The Nuggets displayed balanced scoring with six players in double figures and held Clippers star James Harden to just seven points. Denver will face the top-seeded, youthful Oklahoma City Thunder, with added intrigue as Westbrook returns to play his former team and the MVP winner between Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is soon to be announced. The series is set to begin Monday, posing a significant challenge for the Nuggets.