It’s not Jokic, why did the Nuggets win 19 points? The biggest contributor is revealed: both offense and defense are excellent, igniting the team’s fighting spirit!

On the fierce stage of the NBA playoffs, every victory is full of factors, and the Nuggets' tiebreak battle against the Clippers 120-101 at home on May 4, 2025 has become the focus of hot discussion among fans. Usually, Jokic, the two-time MVP winner, is the Nuggets' Dinghai, but there is another person in this game, and he is Westbrook. In the first quarter of the game, the Clippers relied on Derek Jones' outstanding performance to lead 26-21. Jokic was in poor form, 0 of 5 shots, and the offensive end fell into silence. Westbrook has not yet made a debut at this time, and the Clippers seem to have the initiative in the game. But the situation changed suddenly in the second quarter. After Westbrook came on as a substitute, it was like a sharp blade inserted into the Clippers' defense line. He scored 10 points in a single quarter, made 2 of 3 three-pointers, and contributed 2 steals, leading the team to a climax of 37-21, overtaking the score in one fell swoop. At the end of the half, Westbrook played for 14 minutes, made 3 of 5 shots, 2 of 3 three-pointers, efficiently scored 10 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals, plus or minus value + 10, which was the biggest contributor to the Nuggets overtaking the score. His passion and vitality on the court quickly ignited the team's fighting spirit and also made home fans excited. In the second half, Westbrook continued to play an important role in both offense and defense. He actively fought and successfully made steals many times, disrupting the Clippers' offensive rhythm. When the Nuggets scored 15-0 in the third quarter, although Westbrook didn't score much, he connected his teammates through clever passes to make the Nuggets' offense smoother. In the last quarter, Westbrook stole Harden's dunk, which completely ignited the atmosphere of the whole game, and then assisted his teammates, laying a solid foundation for victory. In the whole game, Westbrook made 3 of 7 shots, scoring 16 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 steals in a comprehensive data. The five major data were all 5, and the presence on both ends of the offense and defense was full. In contrast, Jokic scored 16 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists in the whole game. The data seemed comprehensive, but he made 6 of 14 shots, with poor feel, and 5 turnovers and 5 fouls. At the end of the third quarter, he even got off the court early due to too many fouls. On the offensive end, he did not dominate the game as usual; on the defensive end, he failed to completely limit the Clippers' inside. Murray made 7 of 15 shots in the game, scored 16 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists, and also performed well. He was also restricted by the Clippers' double-team defense in the first half, scoring only 9 points.

Westbrook's outstanding performance is not only reflected in the data, but also in his influence on the rhythm and morale of the game. His impact, defensive strength and concentration in the game have caused great trouble for the Clippers. From the league's triple-double king to the multi-team team, Westbrook has always been questioned, but in this game, he completed his self-provement with his actions and became a key figure in the Nuggets' promotion. It can be said that in this game, Westbrook's outbreak changed the situation, and he was the biggest contributor to the Nuggets' 120-101 victory over the Clippers.