Denver (AP) - Wherever James Harden tries to go, there is Christian Braun.

For this, thanks to Harden's former teammate and Denver Nuggets sixth man Russell Westbrook for providing personal reconnaissance reports. He passed on many useful tips to Braun to guard the LA Clippers’ star.

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Braun covered all night, Harden had just eight points on the floor, losing to the Nuggets in Game 7 of their first-round playoff series in Game 7 of their first-round playoff series in the Clippers’ season-ending 120-101 losses.

It was a sporadic shooting series, and he shot 43.6% from the field. After scoring 32 points in Game 1, he averaged 16.5 points per game in the remaining games.

“James is a tough cover,” Harden’s teammate Westbrook said last season. "Christian did a great job and tried to make the game difficult. I think he did a great job and he did it all year round."

Braun deviates from credit. He said he was able to play a stricter defense on Harden because of players like Aaron Gordon behind him. They were there waiting just in case Harden collapsed.

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"If I didn't have the guy flying behind me, I wouldn't be able to pick him up and put pressure on him," Braun said.

Braun listened attentively to Westbrook's words of wisdom.

"He played with James. He played with James, so he knew his game," Braun said. "He told me when to give him, when to give him this look, when to do it, when to force him to be right, and when he is right, that's what he's doing. I've learned throughout the series that as we go, I'm getting better and better, and our coaches and coaches trust me tonight. We don't want to switch me and keep me in touch all night."

Braun is just as big on the offensive end. He scored 21 points, including three three-pointers in Game 7. But it was his defense that received the highest praise.

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“He did what he had been doing,” said interim Nuggets coach David Adelman. "Once he crossed the half-time game in coverage, we tried to be more conservative. But Christian went on the screen and came back in front of him to maintain our defense."

It was a tough 48th birthday for Clippers coach Tyronn Lue. His team fell behind by double digits at halftime and fell 35 points in the fourth quarter.

"A heavy loss. In this case, not playing our best game, a lot of emotions." "I told guys, the last hug."

They can comfort themselves because Kawhi Leonard enters offseason like he did for a while. He didn't make his debut until January 4 due to his surgery to repair his right knee. Harden put things down until Lue praised Leonard's return.

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The Clippers became the league's hottest team, entering the playoffs, winning 18 of 21 games, and Lue has already disappointed.

"I think both seasons will be huge," Lu said.

However, Harden turns 36 in August and Leonard is 34 next month. Can the Clippers continue to build around encouragement?

"I think we're still doing well in a sense," Leonard said. "It's hard to answer now."

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