DENVER — Jamal Murray led the Denver Nuggets with 20 points as they triumphed over the Los Angeles Clippers with a score of 120-98 on Friday evening. This victory came despite a subdued performance from Nikola Jokic, who had recently been in remarkable form with back-to-back games scoring 56 and 48 points. On this occasion, Jokic managed only 16 points, tying his season-low, along with a mere two assists and seven rebounds.

For the Clippers, James Harden contributed 15 points but struggled with his handling, accruing nine turnovers as the team faced their second consecutive defeat. During the second quarter, Los Angeles made a significant comeback, scoring 18 points in a row, which shifted the game from a 12-point deficit to a five-point advantage. That stretch saw Denver miss eight shots while committing 10 turnovers over a span of nearly six minutes.

However, the Nuggets responded emphatically in the third quarter, outscoring the Clippers with a 23-5 surge that put them in command. Michael Porter Jr. played a pivotal role in the third quarter, netting 10 of his 17 points. This victory was particularly notable for Denver as it marked their first game holding an opponent under 100 points since April 9.

Points of Interest:
The Clippers struggled against the Nuggets in this matchup, especially Norman Powell, who had averaged an impressive 32.6 points with a 63.2% success rate on 3-point attempts in the first two games of the season. In this game, he was limited to just 16 points and made only three of his ten attempts from beyond the arc. For the Nuggets, head coach Michael Malone is actively seeking ways to alleviate the burden on Jokic, having him spend less than 30 minutes on the court and not playing at all in the final quarter.

Critical Moment:
The tide of the game shifted in Denver’s favor early in the second half when Murray created two quick steals, igniting a surge that would change the momentum.

Statistical Highlight:
Prior to this game, the Nuggets had struggled when coming off extended rest, owning a record of 0-5 in such situations, while conversely, they were undefeated at 4-0 when playing the second game of a back-to-back.

Looking Ahead:
Both teams are scheduled to play again on Monday evening, with the Clippers set to host the Jazz while the Nuggets head to Sacramento to face the Kings.