The Clippers won Game 2 at Ball Arena 105-102, and twice in the Nikola Jokic era the Nuggets have succumbed in a Game 7 at home, against Portland in 2019 and against Minnesota last year when Denver blew a 20-point second-half lead.

As the Nuggets prepare to host Game 7 of a first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday, here are three keys to the winner-take-all elimination game.

With their backs against the wall, James Harden and Kawhi Leonard stepped up for the Clippers. The former had 28 points, six rebounds and eight assists, while the latter tallied 27 points, 10 boards and five dimes as L.A. took the 111-105 win in Game 6.