Los Angeles leaned on its veterans in the win, and they delivered a pair of vintage performances. James Harden, who struggled in Game 5 with just 11 points, put up 28 points, eight assists and six rebounds. Kawhi Leonard was equally as important with 27 points, 10 rebounds and five assists.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — A year ago in Minnesota, the Nuggets squandered their chance to close out a playoff series with a convincing absence of urgency. They lost by 45. They tempted fate, and fate crushed them in Game 7 back home.

James Harden had 28 points and eight assists in an outstanding bounce-back performance, Kawhi Leonard added 27 points and the Los Angeles Clippers forced a seventh game in their first-round NBA playoff series with a 111-105 victory over the Denver Nuggets in Game 6 on Thursday night.