LA Clippers head coach Tyrone Lue is no stranger to Game 7s.
Before taking the Clippers’ job, he led the greatest playoff comeback in league history when the Cleveland Cavaliers overcame a 3-1 Finals deficit to capture the 2016 title over the Golden State Warriors.
He then followed it up with two more wins in the 2018 postseason and earned his victory in 2021 with the Clips. So after LA forced a do-or-die duel back in Denver after winning Game 6, Lue braced for a familiar yet different challenge ahead.
“We just got to go for it. Lay everything on the line. These are the moments you live for," the 47-year-old told reporters in the post-game press conference.
"These are the moments you live for."
— NBA (@NBA) May 2, 2025
Clippers HC Ty Lue on forcing a Game 7 🍿🍿#NBAPlayoffs presented by Google
Lue leaned on his dynamic star duo of James Harden and Kawhi Leonard’s combined 55-point output to keep LA’s season alive against the Nuggets.
[ALSO READ: James Harden, Kawhi Leonard help Clippers drag Nuggets to do-or-die Game 7]
Norman Powell chipped in 24 points and made key baskets late, while Ivica Zubac held Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic below his season averages in points, rebounds, and assists.
“James [Harden] did a good job of setting the tone early. Norm [Powell] made some big shots in the end. And Kawhi [Leonard] was just steady throughout the game. Those three guys stepped up and came to play,” Lue bared.
Facing elimination, Harden atoned for his subpar performances in the last two games and fired 28 points — his highest scoring game of the series since dropping 32 in Game 1.
ANOTHER ONE FOR UNO 👌
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) May 2, 2025
James Harden has 28 points!
He also posted eights assists and six rebounds in 47 minutes, the third time he played 43 or more minutes this series.
“It was win or go home, so there were opportunities to be aggressive, and I took them. We didn't want to go home,” the 2018 MVP said in the post-game interview.
Lue added on Harden’s performance: “He wants to play every night. He’s in great shape and [was] trained for these moments. He just wanted to compete and he brought us home tonight.”
LA now travels to Denver aiming to clinch their first road Game 7 win since emerging victorious over the Grizzlies in Memphis in their 2012 West opening-round showdown.
“We just need to stay through the course. Game 7, it's going to be tough but we’re ready for the challenge,” Lue ended.
