INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Los Angeles faced a win-or-Cancun Game 6 at home Thursday for two reasons. One, the Denver defense had taken James Harden out of the series (his shot attempts had decreased every game, from 22 in the opener to nine in the Game 5 loss). Two, the Clippers’ defense had dulled over the course of the series, particularly in Game 5.
Los Angeles will play in Game 7 on Saturday because it cleaned up those two problems.
Harden came out in attack mode, getting downhill, forcing the Nuggets into rotation, scoring 21 points in the first half, and making smart passes.