DENVER — In a thrilling matchup, James Harden put up 23 points and delivered 16 assists, while Norman Powell showcased his scoring prowess with 37 points, including 26 in the second half, leading the Los Angeles Clippers to a narrow 109-104 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Saturday.
Nikola Jokic had a stellar performance, scoring 41 points and hitting a career-best seven 3-pointers. However, in a pivotal moment, he missed a free throw with just 20 seconds remaining that would have leveled the score. In contrast, Harden was efficient from the line, sinking four free throws in the crucial final moments of the game.
With the Clippers trailing 103-100, Powell hit a critical 3-pointer that sparked a comeback. Jamal Murray, who contributed 22 points for the Nuggets, had a missed layup shortly after, followed by Harden converting two free throws to extend the Clippers’ lead. After Jokic managed to make one of two free throws, Harden sealed the victory with another pair of shots from the charity stripe, making the score 107-104. Jokic then attempted a challenging three-pointer but was unsuccessful.
For the Clippers, Harden bounced back after missing a free throw in their previous game against Phoenix, finishing the night with a remarkable shooting performance from the line at 12 of 13. A significant portion of his assists were directed towards Ivica Zubac, who made his mark with 24 points and secured 15 rebounds.
On the other hand, the Nuggets’ offense was notably improved; however, their bench struggled significantly, converting only 3 of 18 shots from the field. Julian Swather was the only member of the bench to score.
A heartwarming moment prior to the game featured Jokic presenting Colorado sports star Nathan MacKinnon with his MVP trophy during the Avalanche’s home opener two weeks ago. MacKinnon reciprocated the gesture by bringing the Michael Jordan Trophy to Jokic, donning a Jokic jersey, and sharing a hug with the three-time MVP.
One key stat highlighted Denver’s shooting woes: After a rough outing where they made only 7 of 38 attempts from beyond the arc against Oklahoma City, the Nuggets started Saturday’s game poorly as well, missing 11 of their first 13 attempts. While they eventually found their rhythm, making 12 out of the subsequent 20 attempts, they fell short by missing their last two crucial 3-point attempts.
Looking ahead, the Clippers will visit the Golden State Warriors on Sunday night, while the Nuggets will set off on a three-game road trip that begins in Toronto on Monday night.