Nuggets Try to Catch Clippers on the Rebound

It’s time for the Clippers to box out and rebound.

Actually, it’s past time, but Coach Mike Dunleavy said he would take what he could get at this point.

The Denver Nuggets’ strong offensive rebounding has been a problem for the Clippers in the first-round playoff series, and it was among the keys to Denver’s 94-87 victory in Game 3 on Thursday night.

Although the Clippers still lead, 2-1, in the best-of-seven series that continues tonight in Game 4 at Pepsi Center, players said their inability to box out could have helped the Nuggets build confidence.

That wouldn’t be a good thing for the Clippers, who have been challenged and must respond.

“It’s one of those things that’s obviously very frustrating,” Dunleavy said at practice Friday. “Until we recognize, until each individual recognizes, the importance of [boxing out], and how costly it’s going to be to us, we put ourselves at risk.”

The Nuggets shot only 37.8% from the field Thursday but had 13 offensive rebounds and 19 second-chance points.

Despite losing the first two games at Staples Center, the Nuggets finished with 19 offensive rebounds in Game 1 and 16 in Game 2.

“It went 19, 16, 13, so it seems to be dropping, but 13 is still terrible,” power forward Elton Brand said. “We’ve got to box out better.... It’s really just that simple.”

Of course, the Clippers had other issues in Game 3.

They were assessed 40 personal fouls (Brand fouled out in the fourth quarter), committed 25 turnovers and gave up 19 fastbreak points -- including 15 in the first half.

The combination was too much to overcome for the Clippers, who failed in their bid to win three consecutive playoff games for the first time in franchise history.

No team in NBA history has won a postseason series after losing the first three games, and the Nuggets understood the situation.

“We knew that they weren’t just going to lay down and let us go up, 3-0, on them,” Brand said. “They have pride and they played hard, but we just need to limit our turnovers and box out.”

The referees were a bigger factor in Game 3, but Dunleavy wouldn’t use officiating as an excuse.

“It was fine,” he said. “It was a change in how the game was called, but the players have to adjust to that. As in any game, you can go back and find calls you didn’t like ... but that’s a part of doing business. The referees had nothing to do with us losing that game. We have to come up with the loose balls.”

The Nuggets have more size than the Clippers at some positions, but rebounding isn’t always about height and weight. It’s often about fundamentals.

The Clippers must have better awareness about where the Nuggets are on the court, get into good rebounding position and go after the ball. It’s not complicated, Dunleavy said.

“When a shot goes up, you have to know that you’re going to find somebody,” he said. “For us right now, a shot goes up and we’re ball watching.

“In the three games, there have to be at least six baskets on balls they got back, because the shots missed so badly that our guys got caught by surprise and didn’t react. You’ve got to put a body on them.”

Chris Kaman’s injury hasn’t helped. The 7-foot center, who has a sore right ankle, seemed slower than usual and was in foul trouble in Game 3.

Kaman missed five of six shots, scored only two points -- none in the first three quarters -- and had four rebounds. He had 15 points and 13 rebounds in Game 1, and 10 points and six rebounds in Game 2.

“He wasn’t at full strength, but that’s a part of it,” Dunleavy said. “He’s got to figure how to play with [his injuries].

“I thought that he played a little tentatively, but the choice of not having him versus having him ... we’ve definitely got to have him.”

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Clipper guard Cuttino Mobley suffered a hip injury during Game 3 and might not play tonight.... Denver forward Carmelo Anthony had a game-high 24 points in Game 3 but missed 11 of 17 shots.... As of Friday afternoon, there were 2,500 tickets remaining for Game 5 at Staples Center on Monday, a Clipper spokesman said.