Leonard led Los Angeles with 14 points at the break, while Harden struggled, going just 2-of-6 for seven points. Norman Powell chipped in four, and Ivica Zubac added eight. Braun paced the Nuggets with 11 points, while Gordon and Westbrook each scored 10, and Jokic had nine.

The Denver Nuggets have advanced to the Western Conference Semifinals following a 120-101 blowout win over the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 7 at Ball Arena on Saturday. The Nuggets never looked back in this one after seizing control in the second quarter and have now set up a titanic clash with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

As seconds ticked away on a first half Saturday night that tilted all Nuggets, the Clippers’ James Harden isolated on the right wing, inviting Christian Braun into his patented two-step routine. Braun didn’t much feel like dancing.