Clippers dominate Nuggets in first Intuit Dome playoff game

INGLEWOOD, Calif. -- There was a certain buzz about Intuit Dome on Thursday night, and the Clippers met the energy in a blowout victory over the Nuggets, 117-83. 

The crowd packed in early, getting their free t-shirts, the Swell in The Wall! filling in with their ponchos and signs, and the fans bringing the most noise the Intuit Dome has seen all season. 

It was a balanced effort for the Clippers, as 6 players scored in double figures, with Kawhi Leonard, Norman Powell and James Harden all scoring 20+ points each. 

Leonard was quiet for a majority of the game, but finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds along with 6 assists in an all-around game. 

James Harden got off to a hot start but finished 6-for-14 from the field with 20 points, looking to distribute instead, and did a fantastic job with 9 assists, taking what the defense gave him.  

Norman Powell finally had his breakout game, and was a key reason as to why the Clippers were able to sustain the offensive output while Leonard was dormant. Powell scored 20 points on 7-for-12 shooting and looked way more comfortable getting to his shots. 

On Thursday night, it was the players surrounding the superstars that made the difference for the Clippers. The team fed into the energy and Nico Batum was at the forefront of it, scoring 12 points on 4-for-6 from beyond the arc. 

Batum has been a critical piece of the Clippers defensive coverages and offensive lineups in critical situations through the first three games, and it shows how crucial his presence has been in rotational defense. 

The team has hung their hat on being a premier defensive team all season, but holding the Nuggets to 40% shooting in total and 27% from three was key to the victory in Game 3. 

The first playoff game in Intuit Dome history lived up to the hype, and it culminated with a historic victory, giving the Clippers a 2-1 series lead going into Saturday. Tipoff is set for 3:00 PM PST.