Clippers overcome Jokic's triple-double to beat Nuggets 111-102 and snap 8-game skid against champs
LOS ANGELES (AP) The Los Angeles Clippers are starting to figure out who they are since James Harden's arrival a month ago.
Paul George scored 25 points and the Clippers overcame an early 15-point deficit to beat Denver 111-102 on Wednesday night and snap an eight-game skid against the defending NBA champion Nuggets.
“To bounce back and beat Sacramento, beat Golden State the other night, it's coming,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “I give those guys for just staying patient. I think we found who we are and how we want to play. Tonight was a big step in the right direction.”
Denver won 113-104 last week in Los Angeles as former Clipper Reggie Jackson scored 35 points with Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon all sidelined. They all played in the rematch.
Murray scored 23 points in his return from a sprained right ankle while limited to 29 minutes.
“We still could have won the game," Murray said. "It's not because Jokic missed a couple floaters.”
Jokic had a triple-double with 22 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists. He shot 9 of 32.
“I was taking the shots I usually take," Jokic said. “The ball didn't get in on some possessions. Some possessions they played really good defense.”
Michael Porter Jr. had 18 points and nine rebounds, making 7 of 8 from the floor and hitting four 3-pointers.
It was Denver's first loss to the Clippers since Jan. 11, 2022. The Nuggets fell to 5-8 on the road.
The Clippers led by one when Harden and Kawhi Leonard combined to score 11 in a row for a 103-97 lead.
Harden added 20 points and 11 assists, Leonard had 17 points and Norman Powell had 17 points off the bench as the Clippers got back to .500 at 10-10.
“We still want to come in and be a defensive team,” Leonard said. “I still feel like defense wins championships.”
Jokic scored six straight to open the third and Jackson scored four in a row to close it with Denver leading 82-79.
The Clippers outscored the Nuggets 40-21 in the second, led by Powell with 11 points and Harden with nine. After tying the game at 46-all on Kobe Brown's 3-pointer, the Clippers ran off 11 in a row while their improved defense forced Jokic into repeated misses and two turnovers. He was held to four points in the quarter, when the Clippers led 61-57 at halftime.
The Nuggets came out firing, hitting eight 3-pointers in the first including three by Porter. They shot 58% from the floor and led by 15 points.
UP NEXT
Nuggets: Host Houston on Friday night.
Clippers: At Utah on Friday night.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 |  | Nikola Jokic vs. Ivica Zubac (Terance Mann gains possession) | ||
| 11:43 | | Nikola Jokic kicked ball violation | ||
| 11:37 | | Paul George misses three point jump shot | ||
| 11:35 |  | Aaron Gordon defensive rebound | ||
| 11:25 | | +3 | Nikola Jokic makes three point jump shot (Aaron Gordon assists) | 3-0 |
| 11:09 | | +2 | Ivica Zubac makes two point driving floating jump shot (Paul George assists) | 3-2 |
| 10:49 | | +3 | Jamal Murray makes three point jump shot (Nikola Jokic assists) | 6-2 |
| 10:31 | | +2 | James Harden makes two point driving layup (Kawhi Leonard assists) | 6-4 |
| 10:08 | | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope misses two point fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 10:06 | | Ivica Zubac defensive rebound | ||
| 9:55 | | Kawhi Leonard turnover (lost ball) (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope steals) | ||
| 9:38 | | +3 | Nikola Jokic makes three point jump shot (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope assists) | 9-4 |
| 9:21 | | +2 | Terance Mann makes two point fadeaway jump shot (James Harden assists) | 9-6 |
| 9:02 | | Jamal Murray misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:56 | | Michael Porter Jr. offensive rebound | ||
| 8:55 | | +3 | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope makes three point jump shot (Nikola Jokic assists) | 12-6 |
| 8:40 | | Paul George misses two point driving layup | ||
| 8:36 | | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | ||
| 8:18 | | +2 | Aaron Gordon makes two point driving layup | 14-6 |
| 8:18 | | Clippers 60 second timeout | ||
| 8:03 | | James Harden misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 7:59 | | Aaron Gordon defensive rebound | ||
| 7:54 | | +3 | Michael Porter Jr. makes three point running jump shot (Aaron Gordon assists) | 17-6 |
| 7:38 | | Kawhi Leonard misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 7:36 | | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | ||
| 7:21 | | +2 | Aaron Gordon makes two point turnaround fadeaway bank jump shot | 19-6 |
| 7:04 | | +2 | Kawhi Leonard makes two point pullup jump shot (James Harden assists) | 19-8 |
| 6:52 | | Terance Mann personal foul (Michael Porter Jr. draws the foul) | ||
| 6:43 | | +2 | Aaron Gordon makes two point alley-oop dunk (Nikola Jokic assists) | 21-8 |
| 6:26 | | Ivica Zubac misses two point reverse layup | ||
| 6:20 | | Russell Westbrook offensive rebound | ||
| 6:20 | | +2 | Russell Westbrook makes two point tip layup | 21-10 |
| 6:07 | | Nikola Jokic misses two point floating jump shot | ||
| 6:06 | | Nuggets offensive rebound | ||
| 6:06 | | Ivica Zubac personal foul (Loose ball) (Nikola Jokic draws the foul) | ||
| 6:01 | | +2 | Michael Porter Jr. makes two point fadeaway jump shot (Reggie Jackson assists) | 23-10 |
| 5:43 | | +2 | Kawhi Leonard makes two point driving floating jump shot (Russell Westbrook assists) | 23-12 |
| 5:25 | | +2 | Nikola Jokic makes two point cutting finger roll layup (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope assists) | 25-12 |
| 5:11 | | Michael Porter Jr. blocks Ivica Zubac's two point layup | ||
| 5:08 | | Michael Porter Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 5:04 | | Nikola Jokic turnover (lost ball) (Ivica Zubac steals) | ||
| 4:54 | | +3 | Paul George makes three point jump shot (Kawhi Leonard assists) | 25-15 |
| 4:40 | | Russell Westbrook personal foul (Michael Porter Jr. draws the foul) | ||
| 4:29 | | Nikola Jokic misses two point driving hook shot | ||
| 4:27 | | Russell Westbrook defensive rebound | ||
| 4:23 | | +2 | Russell Westbrook makes two point running pullup jump shot | 25-17 |
| 4:11 | | +3 | Michael Porter Jr. makes three point jump shot (Nikola Jokic assists) | 28-17 |
| 3:53 | | Russell Westbrook misses three point jump shot | ||
| 3:51 | | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope defensive rebound | ||
| 3:44 | | +3 | Michael Porter Jr. makes three point pullup jump shot (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope assists) | 31-17 |
| 3:44 | | Clippers 60 second timeout | ||
| 3:32 | | Paul George misses three point jump shot | ||
| 3:29 | | Peyton Watson defensive rebound | ||
| 3:15 | | Peyton Watson offensive foul (Russell Westbrook draws the foul) | ||
| 3:15 | | Peyton Watson turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 3:01 | | Kawhi Leonard misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 3:01 | | Michael Porter Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 2:51 | | Daniel Theis blocks Nikola Jokic's two point driving layup | ||
| 2:51 | | Nikola Jokic offensive rebound | ||
| 2:49 | | Paul George blocks Nikola Jokic's two point layup | ||
| 2:49 | | Nuggets offensive rebound | ||
| 2:47 | | Michael Porter Jr. offensive foul (Norman Powell draws the foul) | ||
| 2:47 | | Michael Porter Jr. turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 2:35 | | +2 | Kawhi Leonard makes two point pullup jump shot (Norman Powell assists) | 31-19 |
| 2:15 | | Nikola Jokic misses two point cutting layup | ||
| 2:13 | | Kobe Brown defensive rebound | ||
| 2:04 | | Norman Powell misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:02 | | Daniel Theis offensive rebound | ||
| 1:58 | | Kawhi Leonard misses three point jump shot | ||
| 1:55 | | Daniel Theis offensive rebound | ||
| 1:53 | | Daniel Theis misses three point jump shot | ||
| 1:51 | | Christian Braun defensive rebound | ||
| 1:43 | | +3 | Reggie Jackson makes three point jump shot (Julian Strawther assists) | 34-19 |
| 1:24 | | Daniel Theis misses two point jump shot | ||
| 1:22 | | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | ||
| 1:17 | | Reggie Jackson misses three point jump shot | ||
| 1:14 | | Daniel Theis defensive rebound | ||
| 1:10 | | Julian Strawther shooting foul (Norman Powell draws the foul) | ||
| 1:10 | | +1 | Norman Powell makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 34-20 |
| 1:10 | | +1 | Norman Powell makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 34-21 |
| 0:51 | | Daniel Theis blocks DeAndre Jordan's two point hook shot | ||
| 0:50 | | DeAndre Jordan offensive rebound | ||
| 0:49 | | Russell Westbrook blocks DeAndre Jordan's two point putback layup | ||
| 0:48 | | Russell Westbrook defensive rebound | ||
| 0:39 | | Russell Westbrook turnover (bad pass) (Reggie Jackson steals) | ||
| 0:36 | | +2 | Christian Braun makes two point running dunk (Peyton Watson assists) | 36-21 |
| 0:27 | | Russell Westbrook misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 0:23 | | Christian Braun defensive rebound | ||
| 0:02 | | Reggie Jackson turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 0:00 | | Norman Powell misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 0:00 | | Clippers offensive rebound | ||
| 0:00 | | End of period |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:47 | | Jamal Murray misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 11:44 | | Daniel Theis defensive rebound | ||
| 11:37 | | +3 | Daniel Theis makes three point jump shot (James Harden assists) | 36-24 |
| 11:14 | | Jamal Murray misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 11:12 | | DeAndre Jordan offensive rebound | ||
| 11:12 | | DeAndre Jordan misses two point tip layup | ||
| 11:11 | | DeAndre Jordan offensive rebound | ||
| 11:11 | | DeAndre Jordan misses two point tip layup | ||
| 11:11 | | Norman Powell defensive rebound | ||
| 11:03 | | Paul George misses two point driving layup | ||
| 11:00 | | DeAndre Jordan defensive rebound | ||
| 10:57 | | Kobe Brown shooting foul (Peyton Watson draws the foul) | ||
| 10:57 | | +1 | Peyton Watson makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 37-24 |
| 10:57 | | +1 | Peyton Watson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 38-24 |
| 10:41 | | Christian Braun blocks Norman Powell's two point driving layup | ||
| 10:38 | | Clippers offensive rebound | ||
| 10:38 | | Jump ball. Norman Powell vs. Christian Braun (Daniel Theis gains possession) | ||
| 10:34 | | +2 | Daniel Theis makes two point floating jump shot (James Harden assists) | 38-26 |
| 10:15 | | Julian Strawther misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:12 | | Daniel Theis defensive rebound | ||
| 10:02 | | +3 | Daniel Theis makes three point jump shot (Kobe Brown assists) | 38-29 |
| 10:01 | | Nuggets 60 second timeout | ||
| 9:50 | | Julian Strawther turnover (out of bounds step) | ||
| 9:40 | | +2 | Paul George makes two point cutting layup (James Harden assists) | 38-31 |
| 9:23 | | Julian Strawther misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:22 | | Nuggets offensive rebound | ||
| 9:14 | | +2 | DeAndre Jordan makes two point alley-oop dunk (Jamal Murray assists) | 40-31 |
| 8:53 | | James Harden turnover (bad pass) (Peyton Watson steals) | ||
| 8:49 | | +2 | Christian Braun makes two point running layup (Peyton Watson assists) | 42-31 |
| 8:35 | | +3 | Norman Powell makes three point stepback jump shot (James Harden assists) | 42-34 |
| 8:21 | | Peyton Watson misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:18 | | Paul George defensive rebound | ||
| 8:15 | | +2 | James Harden makes two point running layup | 42-36 |
| 8:15 | | Julian Strawther shooting foul (James Harden draws the foul) | ||
| 8:15 | | +1 | James Harden makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 42-37 |
| 8:01 | | +2 | Christian Braun makes two point pullup jump shot (Jamal Murray assists) | 44-37 |
| 7:42 | | Christian Braun shooting foul (Norman Powell draws the foul) | ||
| 7:42 | | +1 | Norman Powell makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 44-38 |
| 7:42 | | +1 | Norman Powell makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 44-39 |
| 7:30 | | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:27 | | Daniel Theis defensive rebound | ||
| 7:21 | | +2 | Norman Powell makes two point running layup | 44-41 |
| 7:04 | | +2 | Reggie Jackson makes two point driving floating jump shot (Nikola Jokic assists) | 46-41 |
| 6:55 | | Christian Braun shooting foul (Paul George draws the foul) | ||
| 6:55 | | +1 | Paul George makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 46-42 |
| 6:55 | | +1 | Paul George makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 46-43 |
| 6:36 | | Nikola Jokic misses two point floating jump shot | ||
| 6:34 | | Daniel Theis defensive rebound | ||
| 6:25 | | +3 | Kobe Brown makes three point jump shot (James Harden assists) | 46-46 |
| 6:23 | | Nuggets 60 second timeout | ||
| 6:10 | | Reggie Jackson misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 6:08 | | Paul George defensive rebound | ||
| 5:50 | | James Harden misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 5:48 | | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | ||
| 5:44 | | Daniel Theis shooting foul (Reggie Jackson draws the foul) | ||
| 5:44 | | +1 | Reggie Jackson makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 47-46 |
| 5:44 | | +1 | Reggie Jackson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 48-46 |
| 5:30 | | Reggie Jackson shooting foul (Ivica Zubac draws the foul) | ||
| 5:30 | | Ivica Zubac misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 5:30 | | Clippers offensive rebound | ||
| 5:30 | | Ivica Zubac misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 5:27 | | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | ||
| 5:08 | | Nikola Jokic misses two point turnaround jump shot | ||
| 5:05 | | Paul George defensive rebound | ||
| 4:57 | | Paul George misses two point driving finger roll layup | ||
| 4:54 | | Ivica Zubac offensive rebound | ||
| 4:54 | | Ivica Zubac misses two point tip layup | ||
| 4:53 | | Aaron Gordon defensive rebound | ||
| 4:46 | | Michael Porter Jr. turnover (lost ball) (James Harden steals) | ||
| 4:39 | | +3 | Paul George makes three point jump shot (Kawhi Leonard assists) | 48-49 |
| 4:21 | | Nikola Jokic turnover (bad pass) (James Harden steals) | ||
| 3:59 | | +2 | Norman Powell makes two point floating jump shot (James Harden assists) | 48-51 |
| 3:59 | | Nuggets 60 second timeout | ||
| 3:40 | | Aaron Gordon misses two point turnaround hook shot | ||
| 3:34 | | Michael Porter Jr. offensive rebound | ||
| 3:30 | | Nikola Jokic misses two point turnaround hook shot | ||
| 3:28 | | Ivica Zubac defensive rebound | ||
| 3:25 | | Michael Porter Jr. shooting foul (James Harden draws the foul) | ||
| 3:25 | | +1 | James Harden makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 48-52 |
| 3:25 | | +1 | James Harden makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 48-53 |
| 3:12 | | Nikola Jokic misses two point floating jump shot | ||
| 3:08 | | Ivica Zubac defensive rebound | ||
| 2:59 | | Kawhi Leonard misses two point stepback jump shot | ||
| 2:54 | | Ivica Zubac offensive rebound | ||
| 2:54 | | +2 | Ivica Zubac makes two point tip layup | 48-55 |
| 2:31 | | Nikola Jokic misses three point jump shot | ||