Paul George scored 32 points and Kawhi Leonard added 23, as the Los Angeles Clippers outlasted the Denver Nuggets 113-107 to grab a 2-1 lead in their Western Conference semifinal series on Tuesday (NZ time).
The Clippers trailed by as many as 12 early in the game but were able to move two victories away from a berth in the Western Conference finals. Leonard grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds and added a team-best six assists.
Nikola Jokic had 32 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists while Michael Porter Jr. added 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Nuggets. Jokic became the first player in Nuggets history with 14 career playoff games of at least 20 points and 10 rebounds.
Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, who scored 50 points twice in the first round against the Jazz, was held to 14 points on 5-of-17 shooting.
George, whose shooting troubles in the playoffs have been well noted, went 12 of 18 from the field. It was his second-highest scoring game of the playoffs after a 35-point outing in a game five victory over the Dallas Mavericks in the first round.
Game four will be played Thursday.
Earlier, six Celtics scored in double figures, led by Jaylen Brown with 27 points, as Boston dominated the Toronto Raptors 111-89 to take a 3-2 lead in their best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal series.
Kemba Walker added 21 points, Jayson Tatum had 18 with 10 rebounds, Brad Wanamaker and Daniel Theis scored 15 apiece and Marcus Smart 12 for the Celtics, who rebounded from two consecutive losses after they had blown a 2-0 lead in the series.
Boston will get the chance to clinch a conference-finals berth with a game six victory Thursday.
Fred VanVleet had 18 points to top the Raptors, who never led in the contest and trailed by as many as 30 points.
Reuters/Newshub.
