The Nuggets beat the Clippers 115-103 for the third time this season
Los Angeles Clippers #24 Norman Powell (SF) gliding to the basket for a layup. Photo by Larry Salazar/TGSportstv1.
LOS ANGELES, CA - The Denver Nuggets seemed to have the Los Angeles Clippers number this season after beating them for the third time this season, 115-103, at the Crypto.com Arena.
Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers in scoring with 24 points, Norman Powell 18 points, Marcus Morris Sr. and John Wall each with 16 points, and Terance Mann and Robert Covington each with 8 points.
"The effort is there," Leonard said. "The execution part wasn't in that second half."
The Clippers were without Reggie Jackson, Paul George, and Luke Kennard, and the Nuggets were without Nikola Jokic.
Los Angeles led 15-9 in the first quarter after Kawhi Leonard stole the ball and went downcourt for a layup. The Nuggets trailed 15-14 when Jamal Murray drove to the basket for a layup.
Denver Nuggets #27 Jamal Murray’s (PG) layup is being challenged by the Los Angeles Clippers #14 Terance Mann (SG). Photo by Larry Salazar/TGSportstv1.
The Nuggets regained the lead, 24-21, with a three-pointer by Michael Porter Jr. John Wall had the Clippers leading 26-24 with his three-point shot.
The Clippers led 32-30 thanks to a three-pointer by Robert Covington. The Clippers led at the end of the quarter 34-32.
Los Angeles led 48-41 with a layup by Powell. Bones Hyland's driving layup had Denver down 48-43 with 7:08 left in the first half. Leonard's jump shot at the top of the key had the Clippers leading 50-45.
Denver trailed by two points, 52-50, with a layup by Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Ivica Zubac's two-handed dunk had the Clippers leading 54-50. The Clippers led 56-53 with a layup by Leonard.
The Nuggets trailed 58-57 at halftime. Leonard led the Clippers in scoring 14 points, and Powell with 11 points. Porter Jr. led the Nuggets in scoring 14 points, and Jamal Murray with 11 points.
Morris Sr.'s jump shot gave the Clippers a 66-61 lead in the third quarter. The Nuggets took the lead 67-66 with a jump shot by Murray. Bruce Brown would knock down a three-point shot to give Denver a 78-74 lead.
The Clippers trail the Nuggets 84-79 after a three-pointer by Robert Covington. The Nuggets led 86-81 at the end of the third quarter.
Los Angeles Clippers #2 Kawhi Leonard (SF) monster dunk on the Denver Nuggets #22 Zeke Nnaji (PF) at the Crypto.com Arena. Photo by Larry Salazar/TGSportstv1.
Powell's driving layup had the Clippers trailing 89-86 in the fourth quarter. Covington would make a tip-in basket that had the Clippers down by two points, 94-92, with 7:55 left in the game.
Denver went on a 9-0 run to lead 103-92 with a three-pointer by Aaron Gordan. Leonard would make two free throws that had the Clippers down 108-100. Terance Mann would make a three-point shot as the Clippers trailed 110-103.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope's three-pointer would seal the Nuggets' 115-103 win to improve their record to (29-13), and the Clippers fell to (22-22).
Murray led the Nuggets in scoring with 24 points, Porter Jr. with 22 points, Gordan with 17 points, and Caldwell-Pope with 14 points.