Inglewood, California — James Harden delivered an impressive performance with 39 points, successfully sinking all 13 of his free throw attempts, as the Los Angeles Clippers edged out the Denver Nuggets with a score of 126-122 in a thrilling matchup on Sunday night.
Nikola Jokic showcased his skills by achieving his eighth triple-double of the season, contributing 28 points, 14 rebounds, and 11 assists. Meanwhile, Harden narrowly missed out on his own triple-double, finishing the game with nine rebounds and 11 assists.
Norman Powell made a significant impact upon his return, scoring 28 points after being sidelined for six games due to injury. During the first half, Harden also made history by draining three 3-pointers, marking his career total at 3,000.
As the fourth quarter progressed, the Clippers took a strong lead, going up by seven points following a sequence of three consecutive 3-pointers. However, Jokic responded with a 3-pointer of his own and assisted Aaron Gordon for a dunk, narrowing the gap to just one point.
The momentum shifted as the Clippers initially extended their lead to seven but encountered a critical moment when Harden turned over the ball under pressure from Gordon. The Nuggets capitalized on their second chance after a missed shot, with Christian Braun scoring to bring them to within 123-121 with only 19 seconds left in the game.
The Nuggets made a strong start to the third quarter, launching a 21-11 run that put the Clippers down by 10 points. Los Angeles bounced back with a series of six 3-pointers, with Harden and Powell each connecting on three to swing the game in their favor, ending the quarter ahead 92-90.
Insights from the game indicate that this marks the second loss the Nuggets have faced against the Clippers. In the first half, Los Angeles held an 11-point advantage on two separate occasions, only for Denver to equalize by halftime. When it mattered most, the Clippers were composed, finishing the game making 8 of 9 free throw attempts.
A pivotal moment occurred when Jokic, who went 2 for 4 from the free-throw line, missed a crucial free throw with nine seconds remaining while the Nuggets trailed by three.
Statistically, the Clippers excelled in their shooting, making an impressive 17 3-pointers, while the Nuggets only attempted 21 long-range shots throughout the game.
Looking ahead, the Nuggets will be facing the Golden State Warriors, while the Clippers will host the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday night in NBA Cup action.