The Denver Nuggets blew a chance to send the Los Angeles Clippers home on Thursday night, as they absorbed a 111-105 loss on the road.
With that setback, this first-round series is all set for a winner-take-all Game 7, a scenario that Denver could have probably avoided if not for some back-breaking misses from point-blank range by star point guard Russell Westbrook in the second half.
With the Nuggets trying to stage a late-game comeback with just a little over two minutes left in the fourth quarter, Westbrook broke out in transition for what looked like an easy finish after a Clippers miss. The former NBA Most Valuable Player, however, muffed his shot.
A made basket would have cut down LA's lead to only four points. Instead, Los Angeles capitalized on Westbrook's miss by draining a 3-point bucket on the other end of the floor.
The Russell Westbrook experience.
This missed layup led to a Norman Powell three on the other end.pic.twitter.com/vBauuDMdwY
In another sequence, the two-time NBA scoring champion got his layup attempt blocked by Clippers veteran Nic Batum. A replay of that Westbrook attempt showed that he would have likely missed that shot as well, even without Batum's great defensive play.
I am not kidding, I think Westbrook was about to miss this layup as well if he hadn’t of been blocked pic.twitter.com/96fzoA07z5
— K👁🌲🐺🌲 (@Kgformvp211) May 2, 2025Westbrook is one of his generation's most ferocious finishers at the rim, but he simply failed to get it done in those moments, leading many online to call for his retirement.
"Nahhh Westbrook u gotta retire getting blocked at the rim by batum," said a fan on X.
Another one said: "Westbrook you are [explicit]and better retire.”
From a different fan: "Westbrook just retire brother”
“Westbrook just retire already you [explicit] BUM!!!!! @russwest44,” an angry social media user posted.
Via a different commenter: “Westbrook just retire bro thats sad, 2nd easy layup he missed”
“HOW IS WESTBROOK STILL IN THE LEAGUE BRO HE NEEDS TO RETIRE LMFAO,” another one shared.
Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook reacts in the fourth quarter against the Clippers.Ron Chenoy-Imagn ImagesDespite his blunders, the 36-year-old Westbrook managed to put up decent numbers in Game 6 with 14 points on 5-for-10 shooting, 10 rebounds and six assists in 35 minutes off the bench. He can atone for his blown layups in Game 7 at Ball Arena in Denver on Saturday.
Related: James Harden Makes NBA History During Clippers-Nuggets Game 6
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