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George and the Clippers managed to overcome Jokic’s triple-double and held on to secure a 102-100 victory over the Nuggets
Apr
In Los Angeles, Paul George scored 28 points and James Harden contributed 20 as the Clippers rallied from a 17-point deficit to defeat the Denver Nuggets 102-100 on Thursday night.
Despite missing Kawhi Leonard for the second consecutive game due to a sore right knee, the Clippers ended a five-game losing streak at home.
Nikola Jokic led the Nuggets with an impressive performance, recording 36 points, 17 rebounds, and 10 assists for his 24th triple-double of the season. Aaron Gordon also contributed 18 points.
Nuggets coach Michael Malone was ejected from the game with 7:54 remaining after confronting the officials on the court and receiving two technical fouls.
The Clippers entered the fourth quarter with a 75-70 lead, capitalizing on their strong free-throw shooting by making 9 of 10 attempts and extending their advantage to 90-79.
Paul George returned to the game for the Clippers, while Nikola Jokic also re-entered the game for the Nuggets. The Nuggets mounted a comeback, outscoring the Clippers 18-8 to narrow the deficit to 98-97.
Ivica Zubac maintained his composure, making four consecutive free throws. However, Jokic’s timely 3-pointer reduced the Clippers’ lead to 102-100.
With five seconds remaining, Harden missed a crucial jumper, prompting the Nuggets to call a timeout. Guarded by P.J. Tucker, Jokic attempted a potential game-winning 3-pointer, but his shot missed as time expired.
In the third quarter, the Clippers surged ahead with a 17-8 run, led by nine points from George, to establish their largest lead of the game at 70-57. Jokic struggled in the period, scoring only four points.
During the second quarter, the Clippers’ bench sparked a comeback, outscoring the Nuggets 21-0 in the first half. Harden, after a slow start, found his rhythm and contributed 14 points in the period, including a crucial 3-pointer. This effort helped the Clippers take a 53-49 lead at halftime.
The Nuggets jumped to a 17-point lead early in the game, with Jokic providing assists to his teammates before scoring his first points with 5:18 remaining in the first quarter.
Jamal Murray was sidelined for the Nuggets due to inflammation in his right knee.