Clippers 'Embarrassed' After Game 7 Meltdown vs Nuggets
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
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The Los Angeles Clippers were run out of the gym on Saturday when they were defeated in the win-or-go-home Game 7 contest against the Denver Nuggets.
The Clippers looked uninterested and didn't bring the necessary competitiveness to advance to the next round of the playoffs. The Nuggets, on the other hand, looked focused as they relied on their championship experience to move on to the second round.
The Nugegs will now take on the No. 1 seed, the Oklahoma City Thunder, for the right to play in the Western Conference Finals. As for the Clippers, they'll look to retool after a fantastic season, and after they made some massive changes from last summer.
Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Los Angeles Clippers dribbles the ball against the Denver Nuggets during the second half during the fourth quarter in Game Four of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs...
Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Los Angeles Clippers dribbles the ball against the Denver Nuggets during the second half during the fourth quarter in Game Four of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Intuit Dome on April 26, 2025 in Inglewood, California. More
Photo byThe Clippers entered the season with not much expectation, but at the end of the season, many believed they could make a deep playoff run. However, after another first-round exit, the team will return to the drawing board to be better for the next season.
If their latest game tells us anything about their future, it certainly isn't bright. After the contest, the president of basketball operations, Lawrence Frank, spoke bluntly on his team's performance in what happened to be their final game of the season.
"Our players are embarrassed about Game 7, and they're really, really upset that they lost the series, as well as our coaches," said Frank.
Lawrence Frank: "Our players are embarrassed about Game 7, and they're really, really upset that they lost the series, as well as our coaches." — Justin Russo (@FlyByKnite) May 5, 2025
The Clippers and their stars simply didn't play well enough to get the win on the road. As a team, they shot 47.6 percent from the field and were poor from beyond the arc, shooting 29.6 percent from three.
As for their star player, James Harden, he was below average. He recorded only seven points, a poor 2-of-8 shooting from the field, five rebounds, 13 assists, and two steals. Harden was also a -29 in the plus/minus department.
Clippers star forward Kawhi Leonard led the team in scoring with 22 points on 6-of-13 shooting from the field, five rebounds, two assists, and two blocks while being a -33 in the plus/minus department.
Although the loss was a tough pill to swallow, the Clippers now have a chance to regroup and retool during the offseason. With both a first- and second-round pick in hand, along with access to the non-taxpayer mid-level exception, they're positioned to make strategic additions—whether it's boosting scoring, enhancing defensive versatility, or shoring up team chemistry.
More NBA news: 'I'm El Jefe', Spurs' Gregg Popovich Has Epic Press Conference After Promotion
Lakers' LeBron James Makes Major Announcement After Suffering Knee Injury
For more NBA news and rumors, head on over to Newsweek Sports.
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