Clippers' veterans force Game 7 with tough home win over Nuggets

Harden had 21 points in the first half and 28 for the game, along with eight assists and six rebounds in a 111-105 win to force a Game 7 in Denver on Saturday night. The Clippers took a 15-point lead with six minutes to go, but had to withstand a Denver comeback ignited by an 11-2 run to hold on to the victory.

They got help from Westbrook, who got a layup blocked by Nicolas Batum in the final minutes, but also missed a wide-open layup and a wide-open dunk in the fourth quarter. The big miss was followed by a three-pointer by Norman Powell, who had 24 points on 9-for-15 shooting Thursday.

The 36-year-old Batum played 34 minutes, hitting big shots and blocking even bigger shots. His three blocks gave him a series-leading 10 blocks for the series. Not bad for a 6-foot-8 guy who doesn't even start, or play center.

The Clippers got another incredibly steady game from Kawhi Leonard, who put up 27 points, 10 points and five rebounds with only a single turnover. It wasn't glamorous, as Leonard delivered a diet of mid-range jumpers and solid, two-handed dunks, but he played effective, efficient and mistake-free basketball. 

Westbrook could learn from his responsible dunking.

Now the series moves to Denver, where the Nuggets have a strong home-court advantage, but also lost a home Game 7 in the second round last season. Altitude and Nikola Jokic go a long way in a big game, but just like the rest of this series, we can expect Saturday's decisive game to be a war.