The Nuggets, with a Game 7 loss at home last season to the Timberwolves fresh in their memories, blew out the Clippers in the second half to clinch the series.

The first two games went down to the wire with the Nuggets taking Game 1 in overtime and the Clippers pulling out Game 2 in a thriller to send the series back to Los Angeles tied at 1-1. Game 3 was a far more lopsided affair as the Clippers cruised to a 117-83 victory to take a 2-1 series lead.

Denver built a lead that swelled to 35 points before cruising to a 120-101 victory to advance to a second-round clash with top-seeded Oklahoma City.