Nuggets vs. Clippers score, schedule, NBA playoff updates, odds: L.A. stays alive with hard-fought Game 6 win

The Nuggets and Clippers are headed to a decisive Game 7 after Los Angeles held on to win Game 6

The first-round series between the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers has lived up to the hype. And after the Clippers pulled out a 111-105 win at home in Game 6 on Thursday night, the series is headed to a decisive Game 7 back in Denver on Saturday.

The first two games went down to the wire with the Nuggets taking Game 1 in overtime and the Clippers pulling out Game 2 in a thriller to send the series back to Los Angeles tied at 1-1. Game 3 was a far more lopsided affair as the Clippers cruised to a 117-83 victory to take a 2-1 series lead. Game 4 was an absolute classic, with Aaron Gordon's last-second putback dunk giving the Nuggets a 101-99 win to tie the series. The Nuggets took a 3-2 lead after a 131-115 win in Game 5 on Tuesday night before the Clippers responded on Thursday. 

Both teams finished with 50-32 records in the ultra-competitive Western Conference, but Denver got the No. 4 seed and home-court advantage in this matchup thanks to a tiebreaker. 

It was an interesting end to the regular season for the Nuggets, who fired title-winning coach Michael Malone earlier this month with just three games left on the schedule. David Adelman took over as assistant coach, and he'll rely heavily on MVP candidate Nikola Jokić to navigate the 2025 playoffs. This is the Nuggets' seventh consecutive trip to the playoffs, and they've made it to the second round in five of the last six seasons.

The Clippers, meanwhile, enter the postseason looking as dangerous as they've been all season. The Clippers went 19-9 after the All-Star break -- the sixth-best record in the league -- and they head into the playoffs with a healthy Kawhi Leonard. Leonard played 37 games this season, gradually ramping up his minutes. He scored 33 points and played 47 minutes as the Clippers beat the Warriors in overtime to clinch this playoff spot.

Nuggets vs. Clippers schedule, results

All times Eastern

Game 1: Nuggets 112, Clippers 110
Game 2: Clippers 105, Nuggets 102
Game 3: Clippers 117, Nuggets 83
Game 4: Nuggets 101, Clippers 99
Game 5: Nuggets 131, Clippers 115
Game 6: Clippers 111, Nuggets 105 (Series tied, 3-3)
Game 7: Saturday, May 3 | Clippers at Nuggets | 7:30 p.m. ET/TNT

Nuggets vs. Clippers odds

Odds via DraftKings

• Series odds: Clippers -112, Nuggets -108
• Game 7 odds: Clippers -1, O/U 204.5

CBS Sports will have updates and analysis below throughout the Nuggets-Clippers series.

[May 2, 2025 at 12:40 am ET · Brad Botkin]

🚨 Game 6 final: Clippers 111, Nuggets 105

This series has lived up to the hype, and now it's headed to Game 7

The Nuggets tried to make a push at the end, but the Clippers held on to force what should be a wild Game 7 in Denver on Saturday. 

James Harden reversed his recent trend of late-series stinkers with 28 points, eight assists and six rebounds, and Kawhi Leonard finished with 27 points, nine rebounds and five assists. Harden got it going early by getting to the basket and eventually was able to make three 3-pointers once he got a rhythm. 

When your two stars combine for 55 points you're in pretty decent shape, but without the major contributions of L.A.'s support staff the Clippers would be going home. 

Norman Powell was fantastic with 24 points on 9-of-14 shooting. Ivica Zubac blocked four shots. Nic Batum stuffed the stat sheet with six points on a pair of 3-pointers, six assists, five rebounds, three blocks and two steals. 

The Nuggets, who were led by Nikola Jokić's 25 points and Jamal Murray's 21, had a real chance to put some serious heat on the Clippers with just over two minutes to play. They had trimmed a 15-point deficit to six in a little over three minutes and had a golden opportunity to cut it to four, which would've pushed their momentum into overdrive. But Russell Westbrook smoked a breakaway layup. 

So here we go for Game 7 on Saturday. This has been a fantastic series, and it shouldn't end any other way. 

[May 1, 2025 at 11:12 pm ET · Colin Ward-Henninger]

Halftime: Clippers 58, Nuggets 57

The Clippers and Nuggets are mired in yet another tight battle, as Denver attempts to punch its ticket to a second-round matchup with the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder. So far the Clippers have been plagued by terrible shooting (4 for 22 from 3-point range), while the Nuggets have been hurt by sloppy play (eight turnovers).

James Harden has been the go-to scorer and playmaker for the Clippers, logging 21 points and four assists, while Kawhi Leonard added 13 points and four rebounds.

On the other side, Nikola Jokić has looked for his own offense early, scoring 20 points to go with his five rebounds and four assists. The Nuggets shot 61.5% from the field in the first half, so it's a bit surprising to see them down by a point.

The second half should be even more intense as the Clippers attempt to avoid elimination at home.

[Apr 30, 2025 at 12:48 am ET · Sam Quinn]

🚨 Game 5 final: Nuggets 131, Clippers 115

Nikola Jokić has carried the Denver Nuggets through this series and through this season, but on Tuesday, it was the Jamal Murray show as the three-time MVP's sidekick led all scorers with 43 points. This is playoff Murray in a nutshell. While he's struggled through injuries over the past few years, he has always been at his best under the bright lights. He delivered on Tuesday, and now the Nuggets hold a 3-2 series win over the Clippers. One more win and they advance to the second round. 

Murray wasn't alone, though. Jokić, amazingly, was only Denver's fifth-leading scorer with 13 points. The second half belonged to Murray, but the first half belonged to Russell Westbrook. His 16 points kept the Nuggets afloat during Jokić's first rest stint. When his jumpers are falling, there's no easy way to defend the Nuggets.

Now the Clippers have their backs against the wall. It's a situation Kawhi Leonard relishes. Though he had a quiet 20 points tonight, his last Game 6 back in 2021 saw a historic 45-point explosion to save the Clippers against Dallas. Los Angeles will need that Leonard if they want to force a Game 7. If not? Get ready for a Nuggets-Thunder second-round series.

[Apr 29, 2025 at 11:19 pm ET · Sam Quinn]

Halftime: Nuggets 67, Clippers 59

The Nuggets and Clippers have given us four of the most fun games of the playoffs so far, and unsurprisingly, Game 5 has been no exception. Denver leads at the half with home-court advantage in this tied series, but the Clippers haven't let them run away with the game despite their fast start. They've already won a game in Denver in this series and will need to win another one at some point to advance to the second round.

The story of the game so far? The role players. Russell Westbrook checked into the game after missing Game 4 and immediately scored 16 points in nine minutes, which included two 3-pointers. That helped Denver survive the precarious Nikola Jokić bench minutes, which have vexed the Nuggets all series, all season, and really, throughout this entire era. Denver got him nearly five minutes of rest while only getting outscored by a single point. In Game 4, David Adelman played Jokić the entire second half, and if he plans to do so again, that stretch will have proven critical.

The Clippers, meanwhile, have gotten 11 key points and three 3-pointers out of Kris Dunn. Those numbers are far more important than they look on the page. Denver's entire defense in this series has been based on helping off of non-shooters. That has largely included Dunn, who is punishing them for that tonight. The Clippers are scoring. They just can't stop the Nuggets so far, so they trail at the half.

[Apr 29, 2025 at 11:02 pm ET · Sam Quinn]

The Russell Westbrook game

The playoffs are full of surprises, and one of the biggest has been the performance of Russell Westbrook in this series between the Nuggets and Clippers. Westbrook's shooting and defense saved Denver in Game 1. Now, he's dominating Game 5. Through nine minutes of play, he has 16 points and two made 3-pointers. When a series gets down to "best of three" territory, it often comes down to which role player steps up and has a big game when his team needs it. Westbrook is doing that tonight.

[Apr 26, 2025 at 8:50 pm ET · Sam Quinn]

🚨 Game 4 final: Nuggets 101, Clippers 99

WHAT. A. FINISH! Aaron Gordon just stunned the Clippers with one of the most incredible game-winning buckets in NBA history! The Denver Nuggets blew a 22-point fourth-quarter lead and looked destined for overtime after Nikola Jokić's wild game-winning 3-point attempt missed. However, Gordon grabbed the miss out of the air and dunked it home right as the buzzer rang. It was called good on the floor, and upon replay, by the thinnest of margins, the call stood. The Nuggets have tied this series at two games apiece.

Gordon made the big play at the end, but Jokić took them most of the way home. He finished the game with 36 points, 21 rebounds and eight assists. The Clippers, meanwhile, very nearly stole the show with a historic comeback. An Ivica Zubac tip in with just eight seconds remaining tied the score at 99. Kawhi Leonard led the way with 24 points, and a 1-1-3 zone defense in the fourth quarter nearly swung the game, but in the end, Denver managed to pull out the stunner.

Now the series shifts back to Denver. Despite injuries to Russell Westbrook and Michael Porter Jr., despite the firings of head coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth, the Nuggets are two home wins away from the second round. The Clippers, meanwhile, are forced to pick up the pieces after one of the most unbelievable losses of the playoffs thus far.

[Apr 26, 2025 at 8:29 pm ET · Sam Quinn]

We've got a game, folks!

Denver lead this game by 22 points in the fourth quarter, but here come the Clippers! It's only an eight-point game after that steal and dunk by Kawhi Leonard with less than five minutes to go. If you turned this game off when it looked like the Nuggets had it won, you might want to check back in.

[Apr 26, 2025 at 7:20 pm ET · Sam Quinn]

Halftime: Nuggets 50, Clippers 48

It's halftime here in Los Angeles, but the story has less to do with the basketball we've seen and more to do with the skirmish that took place before the teams went to the locker room. With around six seconds remaining in the second quarter, Christian Braun committed a foul on James Harden, and the two shared some heated words. Soon after, both teams were locked in a heated exchange, with James Harden and Aaron Gordon at the center of it. Technical fouls were called on Harden, Norm Powell, Kris Dunn, Gordon, Braun and Nikola Jokić. Those techs offset, so no free throws were shot.

On the court, it's been a back-and-forth affair in Los Angeles as the Nuggets and Clippers play a critical Game 4 in their first-round series. The Nuggets are dealing with several key injuries in this one. Russell Westbrook is out, while Michael Porter Jr. is playing with a big pad on his left shoulder due to an injury he suffered in Game 2.

Jokić has, unsurprisingly, been the star of the show for the Nuggets. The Clippers have done a good job of taking away his passing lanes, but he's excelled as a scorer and rebounder. He has 15 points, eight rebounds and three assists at the half. The Clippers, meanwhile, have had a more balanced attack. No one in red and blue has reached double figures yet.

[Apr 26, 2025 at 6:45 pm ET · Sam Quinn]

Nikola Jokić at the buzzer!

We've already gotten a crazy Kawhi Leonard highlight in this game. So sure, why not throw in a great Jokić highlight for good measure? In a wild end-of-quarter sequence, the Nuggets got a chance to score with 1.9 seconds remaining in the first quarter because the Clippers threw a full-court inbounds pass out of bounds. They responded by creating this buzzer-beating 3-pointer for Jokić to give the Nuggets a five-point lead after one.

[Apr 26, 2025 at 6:35 pm ET · Sam Quinn]

Kawhi with the jam

Watching Kawhi Leonard in this series, you almost wouldn't know how badly injuries have affected his career. He looks completely spry and at times utterly dominant. His 39-point Game 2 swung that game for the Clippers, who may be trailing Game 4 early, but have already gotten one incredible highlight play out of Leonard so far. Denver has been leaving Kris Dunn open all series, but when he missed this 3-point attempt, despite the extra bodies in the paint, Leonard was able to fly in for the putback jam.

[Apr 26, 2025 at 4:43 pm ET · Aaron Gray]

Russ Westbrook, Michael Porter Jr. update

[Apr 26, 2025 at 11:36 am ET · Aaron Gray]

Best bets for Saturday's Game 4

NBA playoff odds, picks: Defense is key in Warriors vs. Rockets, Scotty Pippen Jr. gets his dimes for Memphis

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[Apr 25, 2025 at 12:47 am ET · Brad Botkin]

🚨 Game 3 Final: Clippers 117, Nuggets 83

After two tight games in Denver, the Clippers dominated Game 3

The Clippers took a 2-1 lead in their first-round series against the Nuggets on Thursday, and they did it with a total team effort. James Harden had 20 first-half points but didn't even need to score in the second half for the Clippers to extend their 18-point halftime lead. Kawhi Leonard had 21 points, 11 rebounds and six assists. 

Denver actually got out to the faster start behind hot shooting from Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon, but the Clippers ended the first quarter on a 10-0 surge, aided by some hot shooting from Harden, and eventually rattled off a 23-2 run extending into the second quarter. It was never a game after that. 

The Nuggets were scrambling all over the place defensively trying to keep Harden and Leonard contained, and the Clippers were finding offense very easy as a result. It looks simple when it's clicking as the Clippers, who had 26 assists and were simply moving the ball to the open guy to hit 3s or attack closeouts as Denver over-leveraged itself toward the stars. 

The Clippers are not typically a big 3-point team, but they made 18 of them at a 48% clip on Thursday. Denver made seven. Six Clippers made multiple 3s in this one, and that 33-point disparity in the 3-point column sunk Denver. 

After his hot start, Gordon went ice cold for the Nuggets, who were led in scoring by Nikola Jokić and Murray, who both had 23. 

Historically, teams that win Game 3 in a 1-1 series go on to win the series over 70% of the time, meaning the Nuggets have their work cut out for them to get out of the first round. 

[Apr 24, 2025 at 11:25 pm ET · Brad Botkin]

Halftime: Clippers 65, Nuggets 47

The Clippers are lighting the Nuggets up in the first postseason game in the Intuit Dome. James Harden has been hunting offense from the start and has a game-high 20 points on 6-of-10 shooting including three 3-pointers. L.A. has already hit 12 3-pointers as a team at a 54% clip. 

You can tell the Clippers came with an intention to play faster. The energy is high and they're not letting it bleed out with any lethargic possessions. Even in the half-court the tempo is aggressive and decisive. 

The Nuggets came out hot themselves, particularly Aaron Gordon and Jamal Murray, but the Clippers ran off a 10-0 spurt to close the first quarter and extended it in the second over what turned out to be a 23-2 run. 

Murray and Gordon lead the Nuggets with 13 points each, but the Nuggets have been outscored by 13 in Nikola Jokić's minutes, which doesn't happen often in a full game, let alone one half. That stat will obviously have to be flipped if the Nuggets are going to rally in the second half. 

[Apr 24, 2025 at 3:54 pm ET · Aaron Gray]

Best bets for Thursday's Game 3

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[Apr 22, 2025 at 12:43 am ET · Brad Botkin]

🚨 Game 2 Final: Clippers 105, Nuggets 102

It's only right that an incredible series like this is tied after two games

You are not going to find a more entertaining first-round playoff series than what the Clippers and Nuggets have going on right now, and it's only right that it's tied 1-1 heading to L.A. for Game 3 on Thursday after the Clippers pulled out Game 2 in Denver on Monday. 

Kawhi Leonard is on some 2019 Toronto stuff right now. Wherever the doctor is that worked on his knee, take a bow, because this dude was, and is, in vintage form with a masterful 39-point performance on 15-of-19 shooting including this nasty pull-up 3 to beat the first-half buzzer. 

It is impossible to overstate how incredible Leonard looks right now. He's getting to his spots, hitting unbelievably tough contested shots of every variety. Nikola Jokić did his best to keep up with Leonard with a 26-point, 12-rebound, 10-assist triple double, but he committed seven turnovers and the Nuggets coughed it up 20 times. That, and Leonard, plus eight missed free throws for Denver was the difference. 

If there was a moment late in the game that it felt like Denver could've really put its hooks into L.A. it was with just under three minutes to play in the fourth quarter. The Nuggets were on a mini 6-2 run and about to take the lead with a wide-open Aaron Gordon dunk that would've blown the roof off the building, but he back-rimmed it. 

The Nuggets did manage to tie the game a minute later with a 3 by Jamal Murray, who was terrific all night with 23 points and four 3-pointers, but Norman Powell, who conversely struggled all night, hit probably the biggest shot of the game, a 3-pointer from the right wing to give the Clippers a lead they finally never relinquish. 

What a game. What a series. See you on Thursday. 

[Apr 21, 2025 at 11:14 pm ET · Brad Botkin]

Halftime: Clippers 55, Nuggets 52

We've got another tight one in Denver, where the Nuggets looked like they were about to open up a big lead only for the Clippers to stay attached and then eventually rally back to take the halftime lead on a sick Kawhi Leonard buzzer beater. 

Leonard is on a scorcher with 21 points on 9-of-10 shooting. The Nuggets are pushing the pace, and the Clips are again struggling to take care of the ball. Ivica Zubac is having another strong showing with 10 points. He's battling for everything he's worth to defend Nikola Jokić and he is absolutely gassed. He could hardly talk at the first-quarter interview. 

Jamal Murray has a nice rhythm going for Denver with a team-high 12 points and a couple 3s. Jokić has eight with five assists and four rebounds, but so far the three-time MVP isn't completely controlling the game. These are just two very evenly-matched teams and it's showing every minute of this series. 

[Apr 21, 2025 at 6:45 pm ET · Sam Cooper]

NBA playoff odds, picks: Best bets for Knicks vs. Pistons, Nuggets vs. Clippers Game 2s on Monday

Sam Quinn

[Apr 19, 2025 at 6:34 pm ET · Jasmyn Wimbish]

🚨 FINAL: Nuggets 112, Clippers 110

The Nuggets take a 1-0 series lead over the Clippers after a thrilling overtime win Saturday afternoon. Denver came back from a 15-point deficit in the first half, and stole a game from a Clippers team that looked in control for most of the afternoon. But it was the Nuggets, led by Nikola Jokić's near triple-double (29 points, 12 assists, 9 rebounds), that came out on top.

Aaron Gordon and Jamal Murray provided Jokić with some much-needed support, and overcame a poor first half where the Nuggets shot just 30.8% from 3-point range. Russell Westbrook also came up clutch on a number of occasions, including a huge 3-pointer to tie the game up near the end of the fourth quarter, and causing a Clippers turnover with 9.6 seconds left, stopping L.A. from tying up the game.

The Clippers have got to be kicking themselves for losing this one after being in control for most of the afternoon. James Harden and Kawhi Leonard turned in vintage performances, combining for 54 points, but Ivica Zubac did his part with 21 points and 13 rebounds, but ultimately the Nuggets were more aggressive down the stretch, fighting for offensive boards and hitting big shots to pull out a win.

It was a tough loss for L.A., but this game showed us we're in store for a thrilling series. This matchup could go the distance to seven games, and up next will be Game 2 Monday night.

[Apr 19, 2025 at 6:19 pm ET · Jasmyn Wimbish]

Nuggets, Clippers headed to overtime

Four quarters wasn't enough for Denver and L.A. to decide a winner so we're headed for 5 more minutes of action. The Nuggets came back from a 15-point first half deficit, and had a chance to win it at the buzzer, but couldn't get a shot off, so free basketball it is.

Props to the Clippers for the tough defense to force Russell Westbrook into not being able to get a shot off here.

[Apr 19, 2025 at 5:54 pm ET · Jasmyn Wimbish]

Close game in Denver

The Nuggets have clawed back from a 15-point first-half deficit to be down by four points against the Clippers in Game 1. Nikola Jokic is nearing another triple-double, while Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon have stepped up in the second half to turn this into what should be a thrilling finish in Denver.

[Apr 19, 2025 at 4:52 pm ET · Jasmyn Wimbish]

Halftime: Clippers 53, Nuggets 49

The Nuggets started to turn thing around at the end of the second quarter, cutting what was a 15-point Clippers lead to 4. It was the momentum Denver needed after a first half that primarily favored the Clippers thanks to James Harden and Kawhi Leonard who had 15 and 14 points, respectively. 

Defense was the main culprit for the Nuggets, who struggled to contain Harden in the first quarter. Across the board, Denver just allowed the Clippers to get whatever they wanted in the paint. The defense tightened up down the stretch of the first half, but the Nuggets still need more offensive output from guys not named Nikola Jokic if they want to stand a chance in this game.

Denver closed the half on a 14-2 run, so perhaps that will be the spark needed to get them going in the second half.

[Apr 19, 2025 at 4:18 pm ET · Jasmyn Wimbish]

Harden caps off vintage first quarter with buzzer-beating 3

James Harden has 15 of L.A.'s 35 points, and so far, the Nuggets have no answer defensively for him. He's 6 of 11 from the floor and has the Clippers out to an 8-point lead after one quarter. He topped that first-quarter performance with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer for the cherry on top. We may be in store for a signature Harden performance.

[Apr 19, 2025 at 4:07 pm ET · Jasmyn Wimbish]

James Harden, Clippers dominating early

The Clippers are having their way on offense in Game 1. Harden is up to nine points, and L.A. is outscoring Denver 22-4 in the paint. It's been easy pick-and-rolls and drive-and-kicks for the Clippers, and so far the Nuggets haven't figured out how to slow L.A. down. It's a long game, but so far, it's been all Clippers to start.

[Apr 19, 2025 at 10:31 am ET · Aaron Gray]

Best bets for Saturday's Game 1

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