Nuggets news: Denver knows they choked away Game 3 to Clippers

The Denver Nuggets know they let a huge opportunity fall between their grasp, as they choked away a pivotal Game 3 that would have given...

The Denver Nuggets know they let a huge opportunity fall between their grasp, as they choked away a pivotal Game 3 that would have given them a 2-1 lead in the series against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Instead, they're staring at the other side of the window, down 2-1 after failing to make shots down the stretch. Jamal Murray visibly struggled to regain the poise he clearly had in a bounce-back Game 2, something he noted in his post-game press conference:

“We missed a huge opportunity tonight,” said Murray, kicking himself over his 12 missed shots, including seven in the second half, according to Mike Singer of The Denver Post. “I think that’s why it’s worse because it was nothing they did. They didn’t do anything to take us out of our game. We just missed shots, turned the ball over, couple defensive lapses and that was the game. We were up the whole game, had them on their heels. Like I said, it was self-inflicted. Those are the tough ones to go back to the hotel with.”

Michael Porter Jr., who was brilliant off the bench with 18 points, 10 rebounds, and three steals, also lamented the loss:

“It definitely slipped away from us in that fourth quarter, and we definitely felt like we had this one,” said Porter.

Head coach Mike Malone put it plainly — the Nuggets lost a game they should have won, failing to execute down the stretch:

“We lost tonight,” said Malone. “We should’ve won the game. That’s how I feel. … We were leading for most of this game. Game 2 was a confidence builder because we played our brand of basketball. That is who we are. If you want to just put in a capsule: ‘Who is Denver Nuggets basketball?’ Game 2 embodies that. Defense, rebounding, physicality, attacking, and tonight we didn’t have that because our defense wasn’t where it needs to be.”

The Nuggets could give the Clippers their share of headaches, but they will have to bury some shots when it counts the most. Any Nuggets shooters not named Nikola Jokic combined for a 5-of-18 performance from the field. That will surely need to change if they stand a chance against Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and company, who stand two wins away from the Western Conference Finals.