The Denver Nuggets and the Los Angeles Clippers are going to the top of the hill in their first-round series, as a Game 7 is coming right up following the latter’s 111-105 win at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, LA, Thursday night.
One player who made a difference in Game 6 for the Clippers was veteran forward Nicolas Batum, who scored just six points on 2-for-5 shooting to go with six assists. But he made a much bigger impact on the defensive side of the floor, coming away with three blocks and two steals.
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Batum also gave Clippers center Ivica Zubac a big hand in trying to slow down Denver superstar Nikola Jokic in the second half. With Batum playing heavy minutes in the fourth quarter, the Nuggets managed to hold Jokic to just two points on a salty 1-for-4 shooting from the field in the period.
Jokic seemingly acknowledged Batum’s effectiveness on both ends of the floor for the Clippers when he said after Game 6 that he expects the versatile French to start in Game 7 in lieu of Kris Dunn.
The ability to defend against multiple positions is one of Batum’s most notable assets. While Dunn is also an effective stopper, his questionable jumper and poor outside shooting prevent Los Angeles from having the ideal space on offense, something that Batum can give his team when he’s on the floor.
Clippers forward Nicolas Batum (33) blocks a shot by Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15).Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Dunn shot just 33.5 percent from the floor and 33.5 percent from deep in the regular season. Batum, on the other hand, made just 43.7 percent of his field goal attempts but was a 43.3 percent 3-point shooter.
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But the decision will be in Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue’s hands, as LA and the Nuggets prepare for the winner-take-all Game 7 at Ball Arena in Denver on Saturday.
Related: James Harden Makes NBA History During Clippers-Nuggets Game 6