DENVER — Nikola Jokic delivered a notable triple-double as the Denver Nuggets faced off against the Los Angeles Clippers in a gripping playoff matchup on Monday night. Jokic’s 26 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists marked his 19th career playoff triple-double, making him stand out in these early playoff rounds. However, his performance also included seven turnovers and four missed free throws in a narrow 105-102 loss.
This defeat holds particular significance as it evens the first-round series at 1-1, with the teams heading to Los Angeles for Game 3 on Thursday. Jokic maintained an optimistic perspective despite the setback.
“We could’ve been in a worse situation,” he remarked after the game, comparing the possibility of being down two games instead of tied. “For basketball fans, this is probably the best you can watch.”
The intensity of the game was amplified by Kawhi Leonard’s outstanding performance. Leonard shone with 39 points, successfully sinking 15 out of 19 field goals and all of his five free throws. In pondering ways to contain Leonard, Jokic mused, “Maybe we should just make him feel more crowded? Sometimes he makes it look easy, but he’s been doing that for a long time.”
Leonard’s prolific shooting made life difficult for Denver’s defenders, while the Clippers adeptly challenged Jokic, who shot 8 of 16 from the field, with multiple defensive strategies, including putting Ivica Zubac in the mix. This strategy hindered Jokic’s effectiveness.
“Jokic is incredibly skilled in both passing and scoring,” noted James Harden, who contributed 18 points for the Clippers. “We’ve done a good job so far, but there’s always room for improvement in the coming games.”
In stark contrast to their earlier win in Game 1, where the Clippers struggled with turnovers, Denver found themselves on the receiving end of turnovers this time, totaling 20 compared to the Clippers’ 11. The high-stakes match saw eight lead changes and four ties in the final quarter.
Denver’s fumble came in the fourth quarter, where they committed five turnovers, three of which were by Jokic himself. Interim coach David Adelman reflected, “We lost momentum each time we gained it due to mistakes, even when the game was tightly contested.” The Nuggets went 14 of 22 from the line, with Jokic missing four out of 10 attempts.
A critical moment summed up the game for Denver: with 2:43 left, Aaron Gordon missed a wide-open dunk, and Michael Porter Jr.’s turnover resulted in Norman Powell hitting a decisive 3-pointer for the Clippers. The Nuggets had a chance to tie in the dying seconds but saw both Christian Braun and Jokic miss from beyond the arc.
Reflecting with a positive demeanor, Jokic commented, “Sometimes you miss, sometimes you make,” signaling his focus on the bigger picture. Despite the loss, Jokic remained upbeat, cherishing the high-stakes nature of these games. “Playing in these important moments is a real pleasure,” he stated. “This is why we play.”