Denver Nuggets head coach Mike Malone knows exactly what his team has to do in order to overcome the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 7 on Tuesday evening: allow the opposition to take a massive third quarter lead, of course.

While Malone was obviously joking upon speaking to the media on Tuesday afternoon, there is some truth to it. After all, the Nuggets infamously recovered from a double-digit lead in the second half of Game 6 en route to forcing a Game 7 against the Clippers, who once held a 3-1 series lead.

Not only that, but it is the second time in as many rounds this postseason that Malone and Co. have been forced to come back from a 3-1 series deficit and bring things to a culmination in Game 7.

According to ESPN Stat & Info, the Nuggets are actually the first team in NBA history to play a Game 7 in four consecutive playoff series. Not impressive? They are also the first team since play-by-play began back in 1997 to record three 15-point comebacks while facing elimination in a postseason.

The Nuggets are also just the fifth team in NBA history to win five elimination games in a single postseason — three against the Utah Jazz and another two against the Clippers.

Prior to matching up against the previously surging Clippers, Denver trailed the pesky Jazz 3-1 as well. While then promptly winning three consecutive games to reach the Western Conference semifinals, it once again appeared as though the Nuggs were toast as the Clippers jumped out a 3-1 lead of their own.

However, it all just appears to be part of Mike Malone's plan for the Nuggets.