Tyronn Lue made positive to name each participant, a transfer the Clippers coach mentioned was essential to verify the “temperature” of the staff earlier than its greatest sport of the season.

Lue refused to textual content his gamers in a bunch message as a result of he needed to “hear their voices” and encourage them earlier than enjoying in a win-or-go-home Sport 6 in opposition to the Denver Nuggets.

His gamers responded and delivered in a 111-105 win on the Intuit Dome on Thursday evening.

Lue’s two stars are reticent, however James Harden and Kawhi Leonard spoke volumes with their play in forcing a Sport 7 in Denver on Saturday evening.

Harden had 28 factors, eight assists and 6 rebounds and Leonard completed with 27 factors and 10 rebounds. Norman Powell added 24 factors.

The Clippers opened a 15-point lead within the fourth quarter on a Bogdan Bogdanovic three-pointer with 5 minutes 57 seconds left.

However that lead was sliced to 107-101, forcing the Clippers to name a timeout with 2:43 left.

The Clippers didn’t rating out of the timeout however bought a break when Russell Westbrook missed a fast-break layup, and Powell made a 3. The Nuggets weren’t carried out, although, as Aaron Gordon scored and Christian Braun made two free throws with 58.5 seconds left to chop the result in 110-105.

Denver Nuggets heart Nikola Jokic drives to the basket in entrance of Clippers ahead Kawhi Leonard within the second quarter of Sport 6.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Occasions)

It remained precarious for the Clippers after Harden turned the ball over, however Nikola Jokic (25 factors, eight assists, seven rebounds) had his layup blocked by Ivica Zubac, and the Clippers bought the ball again. Leonard made one in every of two free throws with 18.8 seconds left, and the Clippers’ protection did the remainder.

“Got a great temperature,” Lue mentioned of his gamers. “Took a lot of temperatures in the last 36 hours. Guys are feeling good. They understand what we got to do. We got to play harder. We got to play with more discipline.”

Lue mentioned he wasn’t going to depend on captains Harden and Leonard to paved the way. Slightly, Lue mentioned, he needed to take cost, to be the chief.

Clippers guard James Harden, proper, celebrates with ahead Nicolas Batum after making a three-pointer within the fourth quarter of Sport 6.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Occasions)

“It comes from me, like, understanding and getting our guys ready to play,” Lue mentioned. “And just talking to every guy last night, just to see how they are feeling, things that we need them to do better, things that they are doing great as well.”

Harden hadn’t performed effectively within the earlier two video games, each losses. His offense had been subpar and he wasn’t aggressive. However that each one modified within the first half, with Harden scoring 21 factors within the first 24 minutes. He was seven for 11 from the sector and two for 4 from three-point vary.

Lue mentioned he thought of making a change to his beginning lineup however determined in opposition to that transfer. That was till the beginning of the second half, when Lue began Nicolas Batum instead of Kris Dunn.

The 6-foot-9 Batum gave the Clippers extra dimension and extra constant outdoors taking pictures. And proper on cue Batum struck early, drilling a three-pointer to open the third. He had six factors, six assists, 5 rebounds, three blocks and two steals.

The Clippers shot 4 for 22 from three-point vary within the first half however made 4 of seven within the third quarter as they outscored the Nuggets 32-22 to take an 11-point lead into the fourth.