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.

Veteran forward Nicolas Batum was an X-factor for the Clippers in Game 6, helping limit Nikola Jokic in the second half. Both teams will be looking for every edge they can find Saturday in Denver.