After falling behind 3-1 against the Utah Jazz, the Denver Nuggets ripped off three straight wins to advance past the first round of the NBA playoffs. Jamal Murray looked like a superstar. Nikola Jokic seemed to find a groove. They had momentum.
And then they ran into Kawhi Leonard.
Well, Leonard and a rested, full-strength Los Angeles Clippers team. With their entire rotation available after missing Patrick Beverley for much of the first round, the Clippers sliced and diced the Nuggets to take a 1-0 lead in the Western Conference semifinals.