On Thursday night, the Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Denver Nuggets 102-100 after overcoming an early 17-point hole thanks to 28 points from Paul George and 20 from James Harden.
Even without Kawhi Leonard, who missed his second straight game due to a painful right knee, the Clippers ended a five-game losing streak at home.
Led by Nikola Jokic, who recorded his 24th triple-double of the year with 36 points, 17 rebounds, and 10 assists, Denver has won two straight and six of eight games. Aaron Gordon scored eighteen more points.
With 7:54 left in the game, Michael Malone, the coach of the Nuggets, was sent off. He received two technical fouls when he entered the court to dispute with the referees.
Into the fourth quarter, the Clippers led 75–70. They increased their lead to 90-79 and made nine out of ten free throws.
The Nuggets outscored the Clippers 18-8 to trail 98-97 when George and Jokic returned for the Clippers.
Following four consecutive free throws from Ivica Zubac, Jokic’s 3-pointer cut the Clippers’ lead to 102–100.
With five seconds remaining, Harden missed a jump shot, and the Nuggets took a timeout. Under P.J. Tucker’s guard, Jokic missed what would have been the game-winning 3-pointer with seconds remaining.
The Clippers opened the third quarter with a 17-8 victory over the Nuggets, led by nine points from George, to take their biggest lead at 70-57. Jokic finished the quarter with just four points.
After outscoring Denver 21-0 in the first half, the Clippers came back into the game in the second quarter with their bench. Harden scored his first 14 points of the quarter after going 0 for 5 to help the Clippers lead 53-49 at the break.
The game began with the Nuggets jumping out to a 17-point advantage. Before Jokic ultimately scored his first basket with 5:18 remaining in the first quarter, he assisted on several of his teammates’ early buckets.
Jamal Murray of Denver missed time due to soreness in his right knee.
(AP)
