It is not about how you start or end, but about how consistent you are through the duration of the game. The Los Angeles Clippers (3-1) took a tough loss to one of their conference rivals the Denver Nuggets (1-3) 81-76. With that loss, the Clippers have been eliminated from the Summer League Playoffs. However, the Clippers will have one more game on Sunday, July 20th, against the Memphis Grizzlies.

This was a challenging point because there were five teams that also had undefeated records of 4-0. There will only be four teams allowed to compete for the Summer League championship. So not only would the Clippers need to have won out, but they had to win this game against the Nuggets by a certain margin and that just would not go as planned.

From the start of the game, the Clippers were at a disadvantage with two of their main guys out. Power Forward Kobe Brown (right ankle) is still recovering from that injury he suffered on July 11th against the Houston Rockets. Brown at 6’8 250 lbs being inactive really hurt the Clippers in this match-up versus the Nuggets. He is a big body, strong defender, and improved three point shooter who has not only three years of Summer League experience, but a couple of seasons as a player in the rotation for the actual Clippers team.

Also, the Clippers number first round draft pick Yanic Konan Niederhauser (back) missed the game as well. Niederhauser has show his ability to be a lob threat, rim protector, and screen setter three aspects the Clippers desperately needed. He had a very good showing versus the Lakers on Monday and was a vital contributor especially in the third quarter where he converted 8 of his 10 points in a crucial part of the game.

Prior to this game, the Nuggets were without a win in summer league play. They believed this would be a good opportunity for them to get their first win, and they took full advantage of it.

Beginning with pressuring the Clippers point guard Zavier Simpson who went scoreless and had two turnovers in 19 minutes of play. The Nuggets seemed to have the game plan of trying to neutralize him out of the game early. With no, Niederhauser to set on ball screens for Simpson to get him open that called for the Nuggets to up the on ball pressure primarily by Nuggets wing Spencer Jones whom pressured Simpson 75 feet up the court for much of the game.

The Nuggets outscored the Clippers in the first half 46-27 and did it a lot with fast break points converting on 16 of their points throughout the entirety of the game. The Clippers struggled to create any offense and with Nuggets aggressive on ball and disciplined off ball defense this would force the Clippers to shoot many open and contested threes by non three point shooters. Trentyn Flowers 2-11 and Cam Christie 2-10  were both ice cold from the three point arc, so that is another component that fell right into the Nuggets hands.

Followed by, the Nuggets physical play inside especially from their big man Daron Holmes who finished with 19 points and 17 rebounds. This was a game where Brown would’ve been heavily utilized at 6’8 and 250 pounds able to bang inside which the Clippers didn’t have.

Within the last 4:00 of the ball game, the Clippers would go on a 13-0 run and forced the Nuggets to go scoreless with three turnovers making the score 79-76. However, the Clippers failed to capitalize with nine seconds of play left Christie was forced into an uncomfortable three point shot at the top of the key by Nuggets EJ Liddell, whom just had a big block the play before.

The bright spot was Clippers wing Jordan Miller who notched in his second double double with 23 points and 14 rebounds. Throughout the five games, Miller is averaging 18 ppg and 6.8 rpg. Prior to summer league, Miller was waived by the Clippers; however, he would still be eligible to play for the Summer league with the Clippers. Those numbers will more than likely land him back on an NBA roster if it is not with the Clippers than another team roster.

This doesn’t conclude the Clippers Summer League play they will have one more game on Sunday versus the Grizzlies, but as far as any championship accolades the Nuggets have unfortunately spoiled that.