The latest Clippers vs Nuggets clash ended dramatically on Thursday night as the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Denver Nuggets 115-114 at the Intuit Dome in California.
Nikola Jokic led a second-half fightback for Denver, but a missed free throw from Jamal Murray with 0.9 seconds left sealed the win for LA. The result moves the Clippers to 27-28 in the 2025–26 NBA regular season, while Denver slips to 35-21.
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For UK basketball fans tracking the Western Conference, this one-point thriller could carry weight as the playoff race tightens.
How did the Clippers overcome Jokic’s second-half push?
Jokic, 31, struggled with foul trouble early but came alive after the break. He scored 16 of his 22 points in the second half and dominated the boards with 17 rebounds. The Serbian centre also added six assists.
However, he shot 9-of-22 from the field and missed all six of his three-point attempts. More importantly, he committed six turnovers, a rare off-night in terms of ball security for one of the NBA’s most reliable playmakers.
The Clippers stayed composed. Bennedict Mathurin delivered a game-high 38 points, attacking the rim consistently and converting key free throws down the stretch. LA’s defensive discipline in the final minutes prevented Jokic from fully taking over.
Why did Murray’s late miss decide the game?
With less than a second remaining and Denver trailing by one, Murray stepped to the free-throw line. He needed at least one successful shot to keep hopes alive.
He missed. In a contest where both teams traded leads throughout the fourth quarter, that single moment proved decisive.
Over 48 minutes, neither side led by double digits. Every possession mattered, and execution under pressure separated the teams.
Denver’s 35-21 record still keeps them among the Western Conference contenders. But losses like this highlight how slim the margins are as the season moves towards spring.
What sparked the fourth-quarter confrontation?
Tempers flared early in the final period following a physical exchange in the paint between Jonas Valanciunas and rookie Yanic Konan Niederhauser.
Players from both sides stepped in, including Kris Dunn, as officials quickly issued multiple technical fouls to calm the situation.
Valanciunas finished with six points, four rebounds and two steals in 12 minutes. Niederhauser recorded four points and four rebounds across 13 minutes.
While the incident did not lead to ejections, it underlined the intensity of a tightly contested match just after the All-Star break.
How did European players influence the contest?
European talent played a visible role in this Clippers vs Nuggets encounter:
- Jokic (Serbia): 22 points, 17 rebounds, 6 assists
- Valanciunas (Lithuania): 6 points, 4 rebounds
- Niederhauser (Switzerland): 4 points, 4 rebounds
- Nicolas Batum (France): 6 points, 2 rebounds in 18 minutes
Serbian guard Bogdan Bogdanovic did not feature in the rotation for LA.
For UK fans who follow European stars closely, this matchup once again highlighted their growing presence in the NBA.
