The 2020 NBA bubble was weird. No fans. Just the echoing squeak of sneakers on a court in a humid gym in Orlando. But on September 15, 2020, things got way weirder for the Los Angeles Clippers. They were supposed to be the "next big thing," the team that finally stepped out of the Lakers' massive shadow. Instead, Clippers vs Nuggets Game 7 became the night the hype train hit a brick wall.
A 3-1 lead. Gone.
People talk about it like it was just a bad night. It wasn't. Honestly, it was a systemic failure of chemistry and effort that still haunts that franchise. You had Kawhi Leonard and Paul George—two of the best two-way players on the planet—combining for zero points in the fourth quarter. Zero. That is actually insane when you think about it.
The Night the Bubble Burst
The Clippers didn't just lose; they evaporated. By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, the scoreboard looked like a crime scene. Denver outscored them 50-33 in the second half. Jamal Murray was basically playing a video game on easy mode, dropping 40 points and hitting shots that made the Clippers' defense look like it was stuck in slow motion.
Nikola Jokić was being, well, Jokić. He didn't even need to score 30. He just controlled the entire geometry of the floor, finishing with a 16-point, 22-rebound, 13-assist triple-double. He had the triple-double before the fourth quarter even started.
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Why the Clippers Actually Collapsed
Most fans blame the stars, and yeah, shooting 10-for-38 combined in a Game 7 is a bad look. But the issues went deeper. Doc Rivers, who was the coach at the time, has since admitted the group just didn't get along. There was no "cooperation," as he put it later.
- Chemistry Issues: Players like Montrezl Harrell and Lou Williams were struggling to find their rhythm after leaving and re-entering the bubble.
- Defensive Rotations: The Clippers tried to trap Murray, but that just left Jokić open to pick them apart.
- The "3-1" Curse: This was the third time a Doc Rivers-led team blew a 3-1 lead. That's a pattern, not a fluke.
The Nuggets, on the other hand, were playing with house money. They had already come back from 3-1 against the Utah Jazz in the previous round. They literally had nothing to lose. When you play a team that doesn't fear death, you better be ready to fight. The Clippers weren't. They looked like they wanted to be anywhere else but that gym.
Beyond the Box Score: The Jamal Murray Factor
We need to talk about Jamal Murray's 40-piece. This wasn't just "hot shooting." It was a clinic in how to destroy a perimeter defense that was supposedly elite. Pat Beverley was chirping, Marcus Morris was being physical, and it didn't matter. Murray was hitting step-back threes and contested layups like he was in a park.
It changed the trajectory of his career. It proved he wasn't just a "streak shooter" but a legitimate playoff riser.
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Meanwhile, the Clippers’ "Wayoff P" nickname for Paul George was born that night. He hit the side of the backboard on a corner three. It was a shot that symbolized the entire collapse—aimless and slightly embarrassing.
The Real Legacy of Clippers vs Nuggets Game 7
This game changed how we look at roster building. You can't just throw talent together and expect a ring. The Nuggets had years of continuity. The Clippers had a few months and a lot of ego.
If you’re looking to understand why certain teams "choke," look at the tape of the fourth quarter. The Clippers stopped moving the ball. They settled for contested mid-range jumpers. They stopped talking on defense. Basically, they did everything a championship team isn't supposed to do.
What You Should Take Away From This
If you're a basketball fan or even just someone who follows sports drama, this game is a case study in pressure. The Nuggets became the first team in history to come back from two 3-1 deficits in a single postseason. That’s grit.
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Actionable Insights from the 2020 Collapse:
- Continuity over Hype: Building a team culture takes years, not weeks. Denver’s core had played together for a long time; the Clippers were a "super-team" assembly.
- Adjustments Matter: Doc Rivers failed to change his defensive scheme when Jokić started picking the traps apart. If something isn't working by Game 6, it won't magically work in Game 7.
- The Mental Game: The Clippers played like they were afraid to lose, while the Nuggets played like they were excited to win. That mindset shift is usually the difference in a Game 7.
Don't just look at the 104-89 final score. Look at the body language. The Clippers were broken long before the final buzzer sounded. It’s a reminder that in high-stakes sports, talent is only half the battle. The rest is just who wants to keep playing.
To truly understand the fallout of this game, you have to look at how the Clippers front office reacted—firing Doc Rivers just weeks later and eventually moving toward the Tyronn Lue era. They knew the "culture" was the problem. You can't fix a broken locker room with just a trade; sometimes you have to burn the whole thing down and start over.
Watch the full highlights of the second half again. Pay attention to the bench. One team is jumping and screaming; the other is staring at the floor. That's your Game 7 right there.