Game ID: 22301114
Denver Nuggets @ LA Clippers
Thursday, April 4, 2024 at 10:00 PM ET
Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
LAC 20 33 22 27 102DEN 31 18 21 30 100
DEN @ LAC ScoutingDEN @ LAC Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
LAC availability going into 3/27 · 1 day's restBACK Harden back 3/17 after 2, 35 min since (101% of 35)
BACK Powell back 3/24 after 3, 28 min since (105% of 26)
BACK Westbrook back 3/25 after 12, 18 min since (82% of 22)
NEW Coffey 21 to 26 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 3/29 · 1 day's restOUT Theis missed 2 since 3/25, out tonight
OUT Boston missed 2 since 3/25, out tonight
BACK Powell back 3/24 after 3, 28 min since (107% of 26)
BACK Westbrook back 3/25 after 12, 18 min since (80% of 22)
NEW Coffey 21 to 26 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 3/31 · 1 day's restOUT Theis missed 3 since 3/25, out tonight
OUT Hyland missed 2 since 3/27, out tonight
OUT Boston missed 3 since 3/25, out tonight
BACK Powell back 3/24 after 3, 28 min since (105% of 26)
BACK Westbrook back 3/25 after 12, 18 min since (80% of 22)
LAC availability going into 4/02 · 1 day's restOUT Theis missed 4 since 3/25, returns tonight: 18 min (106% of 17)
OUT Tucker missed 2 since 3/29, out tonight
OUT Hyland missed 3 since 3/27, returns tonight: 8 min (55% of 14)
OUT Boston missed 4 since 3/25, returns tonight: 21 min (212% of 10)
BACK Powell back 3/24 after 3, 28 min since (104% of 26)
BACK Westbrook back 3/25 after 12, 18 min since (82% of 22)
LAC availability going into 4/04 · 1 day's restOUT Tucker missed 3 since 3/29, returns tonight: 17 min (111% of 15)
BACK Westbrook back 3/25 after 12, 19 min since (87% of 22)
BACK Theis back 4/02 after 4, 18 min since (106% of 17)
BACK Hyland back 4/02 after 3, 8 min since (55% of 14)
BACK Boston back 4/02 after 4, 21 min since (212% of 10)
LAC availability going into 4/05 · back-to-backOUT Leonard missed 2 since 4/02, out tonight
BACK Theis back 4/02 after 4, 18 min since (106% of 17)
BACK Tucker back 4/04 after 3, 17 min since (111% of 15)
BACK Hyland back 4/02 after 3, 8 min since (55% of 14)
BACK Boston back 4/02 after 4, 21 min since (212% of 10)
LAC availability going into 4/07 · 1 day's restOUT Leonard missed 3 since 4/02, out tonight
BACK Theis back 4/02 after 4, 17 min since (103% of 17)
BACK Tucker back 4/04 after 3, 15 min since (102% of 15)
BACK Hyland back 4/02 after 3, 7 min since (54% of 14)
BACK Boston back 4/02 after 4, 14 min since (142% of 10)
LAC availability going into 4/09 · 1 day's restOUT Leonard missed 4 since 4/02, out tonight
BACK Theis back 4/02 after 4, 17 min since (103% of 17)
BACK Tucker back 4/04 after 3, 15 min since (100% of 15)
BACK Hyland back 4/02 after 3, 7 min since (54% of 14)
BACK Boston back 4/02 after 4, 14 min since (142% of 10)
LAC availability going into 4/10 · back-to-backOUT Leonard missed 5 since 4/02, out tonight
OUT Theis missed 2 since 4/07, returns tonight: 10 min (57% of 17)
BACK Tucker back 4/04 after 3, 15 min since (100% of 15)
BACK Hyland back 4/02 after 3, 11 min since (78% of 14)
BACK Boston back 4/02 after 4, 10 min since (98% of 10)
NEW Coffey 21 to 28 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 3/27 · 1 day's restOUT Murray missed 2 since 3/23, out tonight
BACK Jordan back 3/21 after 15, 14 min since (131% of 11)
BACK Strawther back 3/25 after 4, 22 min since (207% of 11)
DEN availability going into 3/29 · 1 day's restOUT Murray missed 3 since 3/23, out tonight
BACK Jordan back 3/21 after 15, 14 min since (131% of 11)
BACK Strawther back 3/25 after 4, 13 min since (121% of 11)
DEN availability going into 3/31 · 1 day's restOUT Murray missed 4 since 3/23, out tonight
BACK Jordan back 3/21 after 15, 13 min since (122% of 11)
BACK Strawther back 3/25 after 4, 9 min since (83% of 11)
NEW Jackson 21 to 26 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 4/02 · 1 day's restOUT Murray missed 5 since 3/23, out tonight
BACK Strawther back 3/25 after 4, 7 min since (71% of 11)
NEW Jackson 21 to 28 min over the last 5
NEW Braun 20 to 25 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 4/04 · 1 day's restOUT Murray missed 6 since 3/23, out tonight
BACK Strawther back 3/25 after 4, 7 min since (71% of 11)
NEW Jackson 21 to 28 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 4/06 · 1 day's restOUT Murray missed 7 since 3/23, returns tonight: 21 min (64% of 33)
NEW Jackson 21 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Braun 20 to 26 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 4/09 · 2 days' restBACK Murray back 4/06 after 7, 21 min since (64% of 33)
NEW Jackson 21 to 26 min over the last 5
NEW Braun 20 to 28 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 4/10 · back-to-backOUT Gordon missed 2 since 4/06, returns tonight: 28 min (87% of 32)
OUT Jordan missed 2 since 4/06, out tonight
BACK Murray back 4/06 after 7, 24 min since (73% of 33)
NEW Braun 20 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Watson 18 to 23 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 4/12 · 1 day's restOUT Jordan missed 3 since 4/06, out tonight
BACK Murray back 4/06 after 7, 25 min since (77% of 33)
BACK Gordon back 4/10 after 2, 28 min since (87% of 32)
NEW Braun 20 to 28 min over the last 5
NEW Watson 18 to 24 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 113, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 23 free throws a game; George at 24 and Leonard at 24 a game. Without Tucker (3 straight). One day's rest. Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 105, shooting 47 percent and 39 from three, 17 free throws a game; Jokić at 30 and Gordon at 16 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Murray (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-4 a night and the Clippers minus-2 and the defense, Denver allowing 105 a night to the Clippers' 113. Call it Denver 112, the Clippers 111, the Clippers keeping it close.
3/27 @ PHI 108-107 — LAC notes
LAC won 108-107. LAC shot 44% (40 of 90) to PHI's 48%, 14 of 36 from three. LAC turned it over 6 times to PHI's 12. George led with 22 (7 of 18, 5 of 8 from three); Leonard added 17, Harden 16. The hinge was Q2, 28-20: the deficit went from 12 to 4. LAC trailed 46-50 at the half and won the second half 62-57. Coffey was the night's best plus/minus at +6.
3/29 @ ORL 100-97 — LAC notes
LAC won 100-97. LAC shot 48% (41 of 85) to ORL's 44%, 8 of 24 from three. Leonard led with 29 (12 of 21, 3 of 6 from three); Zubac added 14, George 12. The hinge was Q3, 33-27: a lead of 2 became 8.
3/31 @ CHA 130-118 — LAC notes
LAC won 130-118. LAC shot 57% (43 of 75) to CHA's 50%, 14 of 29 from three, and went to the line 34 times to CHA's 11 — 30 points from the stripe to their 7. The glass went 41-31 for them. George led with 41 (14 of 21, 8 of 12 from three); Zubac added 24, Leonard 23. The hinge was Q1, 31-25: from level to 6 ahead, and the lead reached 19. Powell was the night's best plus/minus at +12.
4/02 @ SAC 95-109 — LAC notes
LAC lost 95-109. LAC shot 41% (31 of 76) to SAC's 42%, 11 of 27 from three. LAC turned it over 15 times to SAC's 10, and SAC turned those into 10 steals. The glass went 38-56 against them. Westbrook led with 20 (7 of 14, 2 of 3 from three); George added 18, Powell 17. Q4 was theirs, 25-18, the deficit cut from 21 to 14, but the other 3 periods went 91-70 against them. Coffey's -18 in 24 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/04 vs DEN 102-100 — LAC notes
LAC won 102-100. LAC shot 38% (34 of 90) to DEN's 43%, 7 of 33 from three, and went to the line 32 times to DEN's 25 — 27 points from the stripe to their 17. LAC turned it over 6 times to DEN's 13. George led with 28 (10 of 21, 2 of 6 from three, 6 of 8 at the line); Harden added 20, Zubac 14. The hinge was Q2, 33-18: LAC came in trailing by 11 and left it ahead by 4. Coffey was the night's best plus/minus at +18.
4/05 vs UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 106, shooting 45 percent and 36 from three, 25 free throws a game; George at 24 and Leonard at 23 a game. Without Leonard (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Utah comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 118, shooting 45 percent and 36 from three, 22 free throws a game; Sexton at 23 and Collins at 23 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Clarkson (4 straight), Collins (2 straight), Lofton Jr. (12 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the turnovers, Utah giving it away 17 times a game to the Clippers' 10 and the defense, the Clippers allowing 106 a night to Utah's 118. Call it the Clippers 116, Utah 110.
4/07 vs CLE — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 105, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 25 free throws a game; George at 23 and Zubac at 15 a game. Without Leonard (3 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 119, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 18 free throws a game; Eva. Mobley at 18 and LeVert at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Okoro (4 straight), Wade (15 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the defense, the Clippers allowing 105 a night to Cleveland's 119 and the line, where the Clippers take 25 free throws a game to Cleveland's 18. Call it the Clippers 116, Cleveland 108.
4/09 @ PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 108, shooting 47 percent and 39 from three, 20 free throws a game; Booker at 29 and Durant at 25 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest. The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 109, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 27 free throws a game; George at 28 and Powell at 15 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Leonard (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the line, where the Clippers take 27 free throws a game to Phoenix's 20 and the turnovers, Phoenix giving it away 15 times a game to the Clippers' 12. Call it Phoenix 113, the Clippers 112, the Clippers keeping it close.
4/10 vs PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 104, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 22 free throws a game; George at 24 and Harden at 15 a game. That is 4 straight wins. They have won the glass by 5 a night. Without Leonard (5 straight), Theis (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Phoenix comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 103, shooting 44 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Booker at 28 and Durant at 24 a game. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the glass, where the Clippers have been plus-5 a night and Phoenix minus-1. Call it the Clippers 112, Phoenix 109, Phoenix keeping it close.
3/27 vs PHX 97-104 — DEN notes
DEN lost 97-104. DEN shot 43% (38 of 88) to PHX's 47%, 10 of 40 from three. DEN turned it over 8 times to PHX's 16. The glass went 38-51 against them. Jokić led with 22 (9 of 16, 1 of 5 from three); A. Gordon added 18, Porter Jr. 18. Q4 was theirs, 24-21, the deficit cut from 10 to 7, but the other 3 periods went 83-73 against them. Braun's -19 in 15 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/29 vs MIN 98-111 — DEN notes
DEN lost 98-111. DEN took 14 more shots (88 to 74), fed by 13 offensive rebounds, but shot 40% to MIN's 51%, 8 of 28 from three, and got to the line 27 times to MIN's 37. DEN turned it over 12 times to MIN's 7. Jokić led with 32 (11 of 24, 0 of 3 from three, 10 of 13 at the line); Porter Jr. added 14, Gordon 14. Q4 was theirs, 34-24, the deficit cut from 23 to 13, but the other 3 periods went 87-64 against them. Caldwell-Pope's -15 in 28 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/31 vs CLE 130-101 — DEN notes
DEN won 130-101. DEN shot 57% (50 of 87) to CLE's 46%, 21 of 33 from three, and got to the line 13 times to CLE's 21. The glass went 51-28 for them. Jokić led with 26 (11 of 18); Caldwell-Pope added 22, Porter Jr. 19. The hinge was Q3, 36-21: a lead of 9 became 24, and the lead reached 29. Jokić was the night's best plus/minus at +37.
4/02 vs SAS 110-105 — DEN notes
DEN won 110-105. DEN shot 44% (43 of 98) to SAS's 40%, 11 of 34 from three. Jokić led with 42 (18 of 32, 1 of 6 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Gordon added 23, Porter Jr. 15. The hinge was Q1, 30-23: from level to 7 ahead.
4/04 @ LAC 100-102 — DEN notes
DEN lost 100-102. DEN shot 43% (36 of 83) to LAC's 38%, 11 of 35 from three, and got to the line 25 times to LAC's 32. DEN turned it over 13 times to LAC's 6, and LAC turned those into 10 steals. Jokić led with 36 (14 of 24, 3 of 8 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Gordon added 18, Caldwell-Pope 16. Q1 was theirs, 31-20, but the other 3 periods went 82-69 against them. They led by as many as 17. Jackson's -14 in 22 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/06 vs ATL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 105, shooting 45 percent and 36 from three, 19 free throws a game; Jokić at 32 and Gordon at 16 a game. Without Murray (7 straight). One day's rest. Atlanta comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 113, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 16 free throws a game; Murray at 24 and Bogdanović at 22 a game. Without Young (21 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the defense, Denver allowing 105 a night to Atlanta's 113 and the turnovers, Atlanta giving it away 15 times a game to Denver's 11. Call it Denver 115, Atlanta 110.
4/09 @ UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 121, shooting 44 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Sexton at 19 and George at 13 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. One day's rest. Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 106, shooting 49 percent and 43 from three, 19 free throws a game; Jokić at 31 and Porter Jr. at 16 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: Denver wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-7 a night and Utah minus-8 and the defense, Denver allowing 106 a night to Utah's 121. Call it Denver 117, Utah 111.
4/10 vs MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 103, shooting 51 percent and 44 from three, 16 free throws a game; Jokić at 30 and Gordon at 16 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Gordon (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Minnesota comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 105, shooting 49 percent and 42 from three, 21 free throws a game; Edwards at 29 and Reid at 18 a game. Without Towns (17 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-5 a night and Minnesota plus-1. Call it Denver 112, Minnesota 110, Minnesota keeping it close.
4/12 @ SAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 113, shooting 43 percent and 30 from three, 17 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 23 and Branham at 15 a game. One day's rest. Denver comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 104, shooting 50 percent and 41 from three, 18 free throws a game; Jokić at 33 and Murray at 21 a game. That is 3 straight wins. One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Denver at 41 percent from three to San Antonio's 30 and the defense, Denver allowing 104 a night to San Antonio's 113. Call it Denver 115, San Antonio 109.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
DENAG A. Gordon
CB C. Braun
JH J. Holiday
JS J. Strawther
JO Jokic
KC K. Caldwell-Pope
MP M. Porter Jr.
NJ N. Jokić
PW P. Watson
RJ R. Jackson
LACAC A. Coffey
IZ I. Zubac
JH J. Harden
MP M. Plumlee
NP N. Powell
PG P. George
PT P. Tucker
RW R. Westbrook
TM T. Mann
DEN/LAC the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
George, Clippers overcome Jokic's triple-double and hang on to beat Nuggets 102-100
LOS ANGELES -- — Paul George scored 28 points, James Harden added 20 and the Los Angeles Clippers overcame an early 17-point deficit to beat the Denver Nuggets 102-100 on Thursday night.
The Clippers snapped a five-game skid at home despite the absence of Kawhi Leonard , who missed his second straight game because of a sore right knee.
“All in all, it was a good win for us,” Harden said. “The first quarter we got down and didn't panic and the second quarter we made some shots. Defensively, we locked in.”
Nikola Jokic had 36 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists — his 24th triple-double of the season — to lead Denver, but missed a potential winning 3-point attempt as time expired. Aaron Gordon added 18 points.
Denver had won two in a row and six of eight.
“Kawhi didn't play but they have multiple guys who can defend multiple positions. That's why they're so good,” Jokic said.
Nuggets coach Michael Malone was ejected with 7:54 remaining in the game. He came on the court to argue with the officials and was hit with two technical fouls.
The Clippers took a 75-70 lead into the fourth. They made 9 of 10 free throws while extending their lead to 90-79.
George returned for the Clippers and Jokic came back too, and the Nuggets outscored the Clippers 18-8 to trail 98-97.
Ivica Zubac made four straight free throws, but Jokic hit a 3-pointer that cut the Clippers' lead to 102-100.
Harden missed a jumper and the Nuggets called timeout with five seconds left. Guarded by P.J. Tucker , Jokic's 3-point attempt at the buzzer missed.
“It's really hard in those situations, especially because I think the ball was in the worst possible spot,” Jokic said. “Sometimes you make it, sometimes you don't.”
Led by nine points from George, the Clippers outscored the Nuggets 17-8 to open the third and take their largest lead, 70-57. Jokic had just four points in the period.
The Clippers got back into it in the second behind their bench, which outscored Denver 21-0 in the first half. After starting 0 for 5, Harden hit a 3-pointer and scored his first 14 points in the period to help the Clippers lead 53-49 at halftime.
The Nuggets raced to a 17-point lead to start the game. Jokic assisted on early baskets by his teammates before he finally scored for the first time with 5:18 left in the first.
Denver's Jamal Murray sat out with right knee inflammation.
UP NEXT
Nuggets: Host Atlanta Hawks on Saturday night.
Clippers: Host Utah Jazz on Friday night in the second game of a back-to-back.