Clippers Edge Nuggets in Game 2 Thriller

The LA Clippers outlasted the Denver Nuggets last night, winning 105-102 to knot the series at 1-1.

After Game 1’s intense action, the visitors desperately needed to pick up a victory. Saturday’s series opener saw the Clippers blow a 15-point lead as the Nuggets eventually sealed the game in overtime.

Remnants of the Game 1 meltdown were revealed early during Monday’s sequel. Denver raced to an early lead in the first quarter by sharing the basketball. Nine of their 13 made baskets were assisted. All eight Nuggets who saw minutes in the first quarter made a field goal. Denver led 31-25 going into the second.

Kawhi Leonard would not let the Clippers fall too far behind. He capped off a magnificent first half with a buzzer-beating three-pointer to give LA a 55-52 lead heading into the break. Leonard entered halftime 9-of-10 from the field with 21 points.

The second half was a back-and-forth affair and featured some of the most exciting basketball of the early playoffs. In total, Monday’s matchup featured 18 lead changes and 12 ties.

A key play occurred late in the fourth quarter when Denver’s Michael Porter Jr. dove on the floor for a loose ball. Porter Jr. was trying to recover a loose ball off of a turnover he committed. He came up favoring his shoulder, and interim coach David Adelman went with Russell Westbrook to close. Porter Jr. was quiet in Game 1 (3 points, 4 rebounds, 1-of-4 shooting), but was making an impact in Monday’s game. The 6-foot-10 forward dominated the glass, grabbing 15 rebounds including six offensive. He also added 15 points.

Leonard took over down the stretch. 12 of his points came in the fourth quarter, including two clutch mid-range jumpers late. Denver’s defense had no answer for the two-time Finals MVP. Leonard finished the game with 39 points on 15-of-19 shooting.

LA’s Norman Powell struggled throughout most of the night but knocked down a crucial three-pointer to give his team the lead with 1:30 remaining. The Clippers cannot afford many more lackluster performances from Powell, and perhaps his timely jumper will spark a surge.

James Harden added 18 points and 7 assists, but attempted 17 field goals and committed four turnovers. Denver did a great job of defending Harden without fouling. It was the first time since the 2023 playoffs that Harden was held without a free throw attempt.

On Denver’s side, Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic combined for 49 points but also had 11 turnovers. Jokic was responsible for seven of those giveaways and was uncharacteristically bad at free throw line (6-of-10). As a team, the Nuggets committed 20 turnovers.

Game 3 of this exciting series is set for Thursday. It will be played at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood and will be the first playoff game in the Clippers’ newly built stadium. After Game 2, Porter Jr. said he was unsure if he’d be ready for Thursday. His absence could be a severe blow to a team that doesn’t have a lot of depth. Then again, with Leonard playing at such a high level, it may not ultimately matter who suits up for the Nuggets.