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And then there were eight.
The first round of the playoffs is finally over, and the Clippers will get the second started for the Western Conference as they take on the Denver Nuggets tonight. This is the second time in franchise history that the two teams have met in the postseason, and the Clippers would be delighted if this series ends the same way as the last one back in 2006.
LA needed six games to defeat Dallas, while the Nuggets are coming off of arguably the most entertaining series of the first round, a seven-game romp against the Jazz that was replete with offensive fireworks and featured a genuine star turn from 23-year-old Jamal Murray.
The Clippers finished 2-1 against Denver during the regular season and seeding games. They’ve had plenty of rest to gear up for this matchup, while the Nuggets may still be riding on fumes after playing Game 7 of their first series on Tuesday.
The full schedule for the series has already been released, and here’s what you need to know for how to watch Game 1.
Game Information
Where: AdventHealth Arena, Orlando, Florida
When: Thursday, September 3 at 6:00 p.m. PT
How to watch: TNT, TSN5
Projected Starting Lineups
Clippers: Landry Shamet, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Marcus Morris Sr., Ivica Zubac
Nuggets: Jamal Murray, Gary Harris, Jerami Grant, Paul Millsap, Nikola Jokic
Injuries/Absences
Clippers: Patrick Beverley (left calf) — QUESTIONABLE
Nuggets: Will Barton (right knee), Vlatko Cancar (left foot) — OUT
More news for Thursday:
- Now that families are allowed in the bubble, the NBA is making sure they adhere to proper protocol while at games, which includes not using “profane or objectionable language” in the stands. That actually sounds fairly restrictive.
- Michael Porter Jr. reminisced on the medical report that stopped the Clippers from drafting him 2018. LA instead took Jerome Robinson.
- We spoke with Denver Stiffs on what to watch for in the upcoming series.
- Ethan Strauss and Nate Duncan looked at the sustainability of what Jamal Murray has accomplished in the bubble.
- Kevin O’Connor went over how Murray outlasted Donovan Mitchell.
- Tyler Tynes on the NBA’s social awakening.
- Royce Young on a defining year for Chris Paul, whose Thunder were eliminated from the postseason in a maddening Game 7 Wednesday.
For more Clippers talk, subscribe to the Clips Nation podcast feed on iTunes or Spotify.