The Denver Nuggets beat the Los Angeles Clippers 120-101 in Game 7 of their first-round series at Ball Arena on Saturday night. The Nuggets players were understandably in good spirits after the game, but no one was perhaps happier than Russell Westbrook. The Clippers had parted ways with Westbrook last offseason, and he fired a shot at them after the game.
“Russell Westbrook walking into the Nuggets’ locker room: ‘Picked the wrong person, didn’t they?'”
Westbrook was, of course, referring to the Clippers trading him to the Utah Jazz for Kris Dunn. They didn’t believe in him and thought Dunn was a better option, and that sure didn’t turn out to be the case in this series.
Westbrook was immense in Game 7 for the Nuggets. The 36-year-old recorded 16 points (5-9 FG), five rebounds, five assists, and five steals. Westbrook got the Nuggets going with some big plays in the second quarter and helped them seize complete control of the game. It was also very clear during the game that it meant a lot to him to beat his former team.
After yet another steal and a dunk on the break in the fourth quarter, Westbrook chose to hang on the rim. He was given a technical, but couldn’t care less, and had some strong words as well.
RUSSELL WESTBROOK HAS WORDS. 🔥🗣️
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) May 4, 2025
Westbrook just let out some pent-up emotions there. It was also fitting that Dunn was standing right there as he exploded. The Clippers guard had a renaissance of sorts this season, but saw his role diminish as this series went on.
Dunn started the first six games but was benched for the entire second half of Game 6. Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue then had him come off the bench in Game 7, and he didn’t make much of an impact.
Dunn finished with three points (1-4 FG), one rebound, one assist, and two steals against the Nuggets. You wonder if the Clippers’ brass regretted their decision, seeing how differently the two played.
Now, of course, Westbrook isn’t perfect by any means. The nine-time All-Star has made some big mistakes that have cost the Nuggets games and has been heavily criticized for them. He delivered when it mattered most, though, and that’s what great players do.
Westbrook finished this series with averages of 13.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. The former MVP was also quite efficient from beyond the arc, shooting 41.9% from three.
Westbrook will now face another former team of his in the Western Conference Semifinals, the Oklahoma City Thunder. While there is some bad blood involved when it comes to the Clippers, that’s not the case with the Thunder.
It was with the Thunder that Westbrook enjoyed the best seasons of his career. Neither side would have really wanted to part ways in 2019, but it was time to end that partnership.
Westbrook wanted to win, and this might well be his best chance at winning a title since he left the Thunder. Coming into this postseason, he had only ever made it out of the first round once since leaving Oklahoma City.
The Thunder now stand in Westbrook’s way, though, and you have to make them the favorites in that series. They finished with the best record in the NBA at 68-14 and just swept the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the playoffs. Westbrook would still have unwavering belief in himself and his team, though, and we should expect some fireworks in that series.
