Russell Westbrook came clutch in defense as Nuggets clinch win over Clippers.
The Denver Nuggets registered a second win on the trot with a comfortable 120-98 win over the Los Angeles Clippers to improve to 13-10 in their first 23 games of the NBA season.
Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr., and Nikola Jokic led the offensive charge with double-digit points but it was veteran Russell Westbrook who took all the plaudits for his defensive masterclass against his former team.
Russell Westbrook finished with five points, one rebound, 5 assists, three steals, and one block in 24 minutes.
However, those numbers don’t tell the full story of his impactful performance. In the Nuggets’ win, Westbrook was the heart and soul of Denver’s defense, which also earned him a standing ovation from the home crowd.
Russell Westbrook’s defensive step up – A big relief for the Nuggets
Despite Nikola Jokic putting up video-game-like numbers every other night, the Nuggets’ defense has been once again a glaring issue this season.
Ranked 15th in defensive efficiency with a 113.7 rating, the team has struggled to complement its high-flying offense. Their embarrassing loss against the Washington Wizards last week was a clear example of that.
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Wizards, who entered the game on the back of a 16-game losing run, went all over the Nuggets’ defense, racking up 32 points per quarter.
Jokic, who had a career-high outing in loss against the Wizards, is currently leading the Nuggets in defensive rating this year at 109.2 which shows how much they have been overly relying on their superstar this season.
However, Friday was different.
Westbrook suffocated the Clippers’ offense, including James Harden, who had 9 turnovers in the game. His lockdown defense was so impactful that Jokic didn’t need to play in the fourth quarter.
Westbrook’s energy was contagious and his impact on both ends of the court was visible, finishing with a team-best +21 on the night.
Nuggets finished the game with a season-high 34 fast break points with Westbrook playing a key role in that.
Image Credit: Christopher Creveling-Imagn Images
