Aurélie Sacchelli, Media365, published on Sunday 04 May 2025 at 9:03 am
Sacred champions two years ago, the Denver Nuggets will be there for the conference semi-finals, after their victory 120-101 in match 7 against the Los Angeles Clippers. Oklahoma City, the best team of the regular season, is now waiting for them.
Third conference semi-final in a row for Denver! Sacred champions in 2023 and eliminated in half by Minnesota in 2024, the Nuggets snatched their ticket by eliminating the clippers at the end of a match 7. At home, the players of Colorado did not tremble, winning 120-101. The Californians, who had managed to win match 2 in the Arena ball, this time almost did not exist. They held during the first quarter of an hour, before letting go as and when. At halftime, Denver led 58-47. Nothing was lost yet, but the Clippers conceded a 15-0 (75-50) on the return from the locker room, which proved to be unacceptable. The nuggets counted 27 points ahead of the third quarter (93-66), and even if they released the pressure in the last one, the Californians returning from -35 to -17, the games were already made. Denver was able to count on Aaron Gordon, author of 22 points, but also Christian Braun, who scored 21 points, while Nikola Jokic finished with 16 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists and 3 interceptions.
Against OKC on Monday!
Candidate for the title of MVP, the Serbian will find in the semi-final his great rival Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, for a Denver-Oklahoma City which promises enormously. The two teams each won two games in the regular season, and the Thunder will pass a huge test, against nuggets more experienced at this level. Match 1 will take place on Monday at the Paycc Center. The Clippers, for their part, despite the 22 points of Kawhi Leonard, missed their match 7, like James Harden, author of 7 points to 2 out of 8 on shots. The Californians, which we did not expect much at the start of the season, but who have become an outsider over the months thanks to their Leonard-Harden-Zubac-Powell quartet, will not be champions this season. Nicolas Batum, excellent in the last match, was satisfied with 3 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists this time. Only Rudy Gobert (Minnesota), Ousmane Dieng (OKC) and Pacôme Dadiet (New York) can now be French NBA champions.
-NBA / PLAY-OFFS 2025
1er tour
Conference
Cleveland Cavaliers (1) – Miami Heat (8) : 4-0
Indiana Pacers (4) – Milwaukee Bucks (5) : 4-1
Boston Celtics (2) – Orlando Magic (7) : 4-1
New York Knicks (3) – Detroit Pistons (6) : 4-2
Western conference
Oklahoma City Thunder (1) – Memphis Grizzlies (8) : 4-0
Denver Nuggets (4) – Los Angeles Clippers (5) : 4-3
Stats of Nicolas Batum (lake): 28 minutes of play, 3 points (1/3 on shots including 1/3 to 3pts, 0 launch-free drawn), 2 rebounds, 2 passes, 1 interception, 2 counters, 2 faults
Houston Rockets (2) – Golden State Warriors (7) : 3-3
Los Angeles Lakers (3) – Minnesota Timberwolves (6) : 1-4
Semi-finals
Conference
Cleveland Cavaliers (1) – Indiana Pacers (4) : 0-0
Boston Celtics (2) – New York Knicks (3) : 0-0
Western conference
Oklahoma City Thunder (1) – Denver Nuggets (4)
Houston Rockets (2) ou Golden State Warriors (7) – Minnesota Timberwolves (6) : 0-0
Related news :