On the brink of elimination, Coach Tyronn Lue says the Nuggets have been “blitzing” the star guard, who finished with 11 points and no 3-pointers in a Game 5 loss.

James Harden managed only 11 points on 3-of-9 shooting and finished a team-worst minus-16 on a night when the NBA's third-best regular-season defense got carved up by Denver's 29 assists on 48 made baskets and 55.8% shooting, including 17-of-33 on 3-pointers (51.5%).

James Harden was far from impressive in the defeat, registering 11 points on 3-of-9 shooting, to go along with eight rebounds, five assists, two steals, zero three-pointers and four turnovers in 35 minutes of play.