LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Clippers managed to force a Game 7 against the Denver Nuggets with a 111-105 victory in Game 6 on Thursday.

The Clippers’ defense managed to keep Nuggets star Nikola Jokić from a triple-double (25 points, eight assists and seven rebounds). Jokic has averaged a triple-double in the series with 25.3 points, 11.8 rebounds and 10.5 assists per game.

James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, and Norman Powell led the Clippers’ offense, combining for 79 points.

Nicolas Batum was held in high regard by his coaches and teammates for his efforts on both ends of the floor in Game 6 and could be added to the starting lineup for Game 7. He finished with six points, six assists, five rebounds, three blocked shots and two steals on Thursday.

It will be up to coach Tyronn Lue to consider whether he will check in with his players again, through individual conversations, like he did prior to Game 6.

Lue’s squad has seen different results throughout the series while playing in Denver.

The Clippers split the first two games of the series on the road with the Nuggets. The two games were decided by a combined total of five points. Denver then blew out L.A. 131-115 in Game 5.

Russell Westbrook played a big role in the final minutes of Game 1 as the Nuggets rallied to win in overtime. Westbrook scored 15 points in the game, including three on an uncontested shot in the corner from long range that helped give Denver a lead late in regulation. He also knocked an inbound pass away and off of Harden with 9.6 seconds left to help seal the win in overtime.

Leonard helped the Clippers in Game 2 with a 39-point performance while shooting 15-of-19 from the field; his teammates combined for 26-of-66 shooting from the field.

“We can have the confidence to know that we have won there, but it’s going to be a different game,” Leonard said. “We have to come out aggressive in the first quarter and make sure they don’t get a big lead on us.”

The Clippers are looking to avoid having their season end with a first-round exit for a third consecutive year.

In each of the previous two seasons, Leonard was a non-factor for the Clippers. He played in just two games in each of those first-round series because of injuries.

He started off the 2024-25 season listed as day-to-day after undergoing a knee procedure during the offseason to address swelling. Leonard had expressed during media day in September that he expected to play the season opener, but he missed the first 34 games of the season. The Clippers went 19-15 without him.

He also mentioned during the Clippers’ media day that he was hoping to remain healthy enough to have a run in the playoffs. He’s been able to follow through with that through the first six games.

The team has not reported a single player on the injury report this postseason.

The Nuggets took a lead in the series while dealing with their share of injuries. Westbrook had left foot inflammation and was considered questionable after rolling his ankle before Game 3. He missed Game 4 before rejoining the series.

Michael Porter Jr. has continued to play despite a bad left shoulder. He’s averaged 10.2 points and 5.7 rebounds in 32.8 minutes per game in the series.

When is Game 7 between Clippers and Nuggets?

The Clippers will travel to play the Nuggets in Game 7 at Ball Arena in Denver. The game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET on May  3 (TNT).

The Dallas Stars have an advantage besides home-ice advantage when they host the Colorado Avalanche in Game 7 on Saturday night.

They have coach Peter DeBoer.

DeBoer has an 8-0 record in Game 7s. If the Stars win Saturday, he would set a record for most Game 7 victories by either a coach or a player.

Avalanche coach Jared Bednar, meanwhile, has never won a Game 7, going 0-3.

DeBoer is also 3-0 in playoff series against the Avalanche. Colorado has never won a Game 7 on the road since moving from Quebec in 1995.

USA TODAY Sports offers its predictions on whether the Dallas Stars or Colorado Avalanche will win Game 7 and advance to the second round:

Game 7 predictions

Jason Anderson – Avalanche 5, Stars 2: Colorado has created more of the chances throughout the series, and that has to add up to something. Expect a close one that sees Cale Makar dominate, with the Avs finally sealing the series with a late empty-netter.

Mike Brehm – Avalanche 5, Stars 3: DeBoer can’t stay perfect forever, right? I had the Avalanche winning the Stanley Cup and I have faith they can pull this one off against a Stars team still missing Jason Robertson and Miro Heiskanen. Just make sure you don’t give up a goal in the first nine seconds this time.

Jace Evans – Avalanche 4, Stars 3: I picked Avalanche in seven before the series and I’m sticking with it. The Avs have, on balance, been the better team this series, holding a 22-17 advantage in goals and a 214-167(!) edge in shots.

How to watch Stars vs. Avalanche Game 7: TV, stream

• Time: 8 p.m. ET
• Location: American Airlines Center (Dallas)
• TV: ABC
• Stream: Fubo, ESPN+

Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon says her ‘heart’s a little heavy’ for Gregg Popovich, who officially stepped down as the head coach of the San Antonio Spurs after 29 seasons.

“My heart’s a little heavy for him because I know how much he loves it,” Hammon said on Friday ahead of the Aces’ preseason matchup against the Dallas Wings. She said Popovich, who will transition into the role of the Spurs’ president of basketball operations, is ‘one of the greatest to do it. Arguably, the greatest to do it.” 

Hammon said she texted Popovich following the news, telling her 76-year-old mentor that she’s ‘thinking about him and love(s) him’ because she’s sure it was ‘a heavy, heavy decision for him’ to step away. Hammon said she has no doubt that Popovich will ‘crush this new role just as much.’

‘I know he’ll still be running around that facility and be heavily involved with the everyday decisions. He will always be the most competitive person in the building, whatever building he’s in,’ Hammon said. ‘That part doesn’t change just because you get a little bit older.’

GREGG POPOVICH STEPS DOWN: Six ways he left his footprint on the Spurs and NBA

Hammon got her start in coaching after Popovich hired her as an assistant coach in August 2014, making her only the second female coach in NBA history. Hammon coached the Spurs to a Summer League title in 2015, the first woman to do so. When Popovich was ejected in the second quarter of the Spurs’ loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Dec. 30, 2020, Hammon became the first female acting head coach in league history.

Hammon interviewed for the Milwaukee Bucks’ general manager position in 2017 and the Portland Trail Blazers’ head coaching vacancy in 2021, before accepting the Las Vegas Aces’ head coaching job in December 2021.

“He’s a huge reason why I got this job,” said Hammon, who won back-to-back WNBA titles in 2022 and 2023 and is 87-29 in three seasons as the head coach of the Aces. ‘That’s who mentored me. That’s who spent literally thousands of hours with me.’

Hammon said Popovich’s leadership always stood out to her during the eight years she spent on his staff.

‘I think what was always so amazing about Pop was how he led,’ she said. ‘People have different leadership styles, but I thought he got the absolute most out of his roster. Whatever his roster looked like. Turns out, he had some really good players.’

After news of Popovich stepping down hit the airwaves, many sports reporters endorsed Hammon as his successor and recommended she be named the Spurs’ next head coach to continue his legacy. The job is going to Mitch Johnson, who has served as the interim head coach since Popovich suffered a mild stroke on Nov. 2.

Hammon said she’s ‘super happy where I’m at.’

‘This opportunity for me, I couldn’t pass on it. … I bet on myself instead of, maybe waiting it out for a maybe (in the NBA). I’ve enjoyed being back on the women’s side. You guys know I’m effusive about my love for this team and being back in the women’s game,’ Hammon said. ‘If I were to ever make that jump again, it would just have to be the right fit, right time and for the right people with the right team.’

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After winning gold in the 100m hurdles at the 2024 Paris Olympics with a time of 12.33 seconds, Russell bested herself and turned in a personal best time of 12.17 seconds at the Grand Slam Track Miami meet on Friday, which sets an American record and becomes the second-fastest time in world history.

Russell, 24, appeared to surprise herself, saying she’s ‘in shock’ over the result after the race.

‘I wasn’t expecting that,’ Russell said. ‘I just went out there and competed. These women force you to be your best self. It brings the best out of you. I’m just floating on cloud nine right now.’

Fellow American Tia Jones finished second in the race with a time of 12.19, which marks the third-fastest time in world history. Both Russell and Jones beat the previous American record of 12.20 seconds set by Keni Harrison in 2016. Nigerian Tobi Amusan currently holds the world record in 100m hurdles with a time of 12.12, which she turned in at the 2022 World Championships.

On Thursday, U.S. Olympic sprinter Fred Kerley was arrested for misdemeanor battery after allegedly striking a woman with a closed fist at a hotel ahead of this weekend’s Grand Slam Track event in Miami.

Grand Slam Track confirmed in a statement that Kerley, the reigning Olympic bronze medalist in the men’s 100-meter dash would no longer compete at this weekend’s event and declined further comment. He was scheduled to compete in the 100-meter dash on Saturday and the 200-meter dash on Sunday.

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SOUTH BEND, IN – All basketball eyes Friday were on WNBA rookie Paige Bueckers. 

Except those on former Notre Dame All-American guard Arike Ogunbowale. Or former Irish guards Jewell Loyd and Jackie Young. The three veterans received warm welcome back receptions during the first WNBA game played at Purcell Pavilion, an exhibition Friday between the Las Vegas Aces and the Dallas Wings. 

Bueckers, the top pick by Dallas in last month’s WNBA draft, wasn’t far behind. She was cheered when she was the second Wings starter announced. She was cheered after her first bucket with 6:12 left in the first quarter. 

She was usually jeered during two previous trips to Notre Dame, which both ended in UConn losses. 

“It wasn’t UConn playing Notre Dame so it was a littel bit different energy from the crowd,” Bueckers said. 

Twenty-six days after leading Connecticut to its 12th national championship, the Dallas rookie looked Friday like a rookie. In 22:37 on the court, Bueckers had 10 points, four rebounds and one assist. She made four of seven shots from the floor and two of three from 3. She did not attempt a free throw and finished with a plus/minus of (-23). 

Bueckers left the game for good with 5:31 remaining and Dallas down 94-75. 

“It’s super surreal in terms of the turnaround from where I was two weeks to where I am today,” Bueckers said. “I’m just excited to play basketball again.” 

Las Vegas won 112-78. 

Bueckers matched up much of the night against Young, one of the game’s elite guards. Young, also a No. 1 pick, admitted earlier in the day that it took years to adjust to the speed and style of the WNBA game. It’s nothing like college, something all rookies learn. 

The pace, the flow, the talent level on the other team and the physicality all were adjustments for Bueckers. 

“She’s just very poised and composed all the time,” said Dallas coach Chris Koclanes, also making his WNBA debut on Friday. “Just another game for her.” 

Koclanes’ pre-game message to Bueckers was simple — go and play in the present, don’t worry about being perfect. Nobody is. 

It looked like a game where Bueckers was still trying to figure it all out. Not trying to do too much, she often did too little. The Wings fell into an early eight-point deficit with Bueckers on the floor, then took the lead with her on the bench. 

Not long after she returned, the Aces built a double-digit lead. Dallas trailed by 19 at halftime and by as many as 34. Bueckers settled down a bit in the second half, where she banged in a pair of wing 3-pointers. 

It’s a long year for someone who’s already had a long basketball run. There will be ups and downs, wins and losses. Bueckers will be better for all of it down the line. 

“This is just the start,” she said. “You want to build off that.” 

The construction continues. 

Follow South Bend Tribune and NDInsider columnist Tom Noie on X (formerly Twitter): @tnoieNDI. Contact Noie at tnoie@sbtinfo.com