Paul George scored 28 points, while James Harden contributed 20 as the Los Angeles Clippers managed to overcome an initial 17-point disadvantage to defeat the Denver Nuggets 102-100 on Thursday evening.
Despite the absence of Kawhi Leonard, who missed his second consecutive game due to a sore right knee, the Clippers put an end to a five-game losing streak at home.
Nikola Jokic recorded 36 points, 17 rebounds, and 10 assists, marking his 24th triple-double of the season, leading the charge for Denver, which had secured victories in two consecutive games and six out of eight. Aaron Gordon chipped in 18 points.
The Nuggets faced a setback when their coach, Michael Malone, was ejected from the game with 7:54 remaining after confronting the officials and receiving two technical fouls.
Heading into the fourth quarter with a 75-70 advantage, the Clippers widened the gap to 90-79, making 9 of 10 free throws.
Although George returned for the Clippers and Jokic for the Nuggets, the latter managed to outscore the former, reducing the deficit to 98-97.
In the closing moments, Ivica Zubac’s four consecutive free throws gave the Clippers a 102-100 lead, but Jokic’s 3-pointer narrowed the gap.
Despite a missed jumper from Harden, the Nuggets failed to capitalize, with Jokic’s potential winning 3-point attempt falling short as time expired.
George led the Clippers with nine points in the third quarter, as they outscored the Nuggets 17-8, establishing a 70-57 lead. Jokic was limited to just four points during this period.
The Clippers’ bench played a pivotal role in the second quarter, outscoring Denver 21-0. Harden, after a slow start, scored 14 points in the period, helping the Clippers secure a 53-49 halftime lead.
The Nuggets raced to a 17-point advantage at the beginning of the game, with Jokic assisting his teammates before finally scoring himself with 5:18 remaining in the first quarter.
