Game ID: 22301215
Denver Nuggets @ LA Clippers
Wednesday, December 6, 2023 at 10:00 PM ET
Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
LAC 21 40 18 32 111DEN 36 21 25 20 102
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 11/27 · 1 day's restOUT Plumlee missed 9 since 11/08, out tonight
BACK Coffey back 11/20 after 3, 6 min since (31% of 21)
BACK Hyland back 11/20 after 3, 4 min since (29% of 14)
LAC availability going into 11/29 · 1 day's restOUT Plumlee missed 10 since 11/08, out tonight
BACK Coffey back 11/20 after 3, 6 min since (31% of 21)
BACK Hyland back 11/20 after 3, 4 min since (29% of 14)
LAC availability going into 11/30 · back-to-backOUT Plumlee missed 11 since 11/08, out tonight
BACK Hyland back 11/25 after 2, 2 min since (18% of 14)
LAC availability going into 12/02 · 1 day's restOUT Tucker missed 2 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Plumlee missed 12 since 11/08, out tonight
BACK Hyland back 11/25 after 2, 3 min since (21% of 14)
LAC availability going into 12/06 · 3 days' restOUT Tucker missed 3 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Plumlee missed 13 since 11/08, out tonight
BACK Hyland back 11/25 after 2, 3 min since (21% of 14)
LAC availability going into 12/08 · 1 day's restOUT Coffey missed 2 since 12/02, out tonight
OUT Tucker missed 4 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Plumlee missed 14 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Hyland missed 2 since 12/02, out tonight
LAC availability going into 12/11 · 2 days' restOUT Coffey missed 3 since 12/02, out tonight
OUT Tucker missed 5 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Plumlee missed 15 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Hyland missed 3 since 12/02, out tonight
LAC availability going into 12/12 · back-to-backOUT Coffey missed 4 since 12/02, returns tonight: 9 min (43% of 21)
OUT Tucker missed 6 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Plumlee missed 16 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Hyland missed 4 since 12/02, returns tonight: 9 min (64% of 14)
LAC availability going into 12/14 · 1 day's restOUT Tucker missed 7 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Plumlee missed 17 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Boston missed 2 since 12/11, out tonight
BACK Coffey back 12/12 after 4, 9 min since (43% of 21)
BACK Hyland back 12/12 after 4, 9 min since (64% of 14)
DEN availability going into 11/27 · back-to-backOUT Murray missed 10 since 11/06, out tonight
BACK Holiday back 11/24 after 2, 20 min since (136% of 15)
BACK Jordan back 11/26 after 9, 12 min since (114% of 11)
NEW Jackson 21 to 28 min over the last 5
NEW Braun 20 to 26 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 11/29 · 1 day's restOUT Murray missed 11 since 11/06, returns tonight: 22 min (69% of 33)
OUT Gordon missed 2 since 11/26, out tonight
BACK Holiday back 11/24 after 2, 25 min since (167% of 15)
BACK Jordan back 11/26 after 9, 23 min since (212% of 11)
NEW Jackson 21 to 32 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 12/01 · 1 day's restOUT Gordon missed 3 since 11/26, out tonight
BACK Murray back 11/29 after 11, 22 min since (69% of 33)
BACK Holiday back 11/24 after 2, 25 min since (171% of 15)
BACK Jordan back 11/26 after 9, 17 min since (159% of 11)
NEW Jackson 21 to 30 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 12/02 · back-to-backOUT Gordon missed 4 since 11/26, returns tonight: 33 min (101% of 32)
BACK Murray back 11/29 after 11, 22 min since (69% of 33)
BACK Holiday back 11/24 after 2, 25 min since (171% of 15)
BACK Jordan back 11/26 after 9, 16 min since (150% of 11)
NEW Jackson 21 to 29 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 12/06 · 3 days' restOUT Murray missed 2 since 12/01, returns tonight: 29 min (89% of 33)
BACK Gordon back 12/02 after 4, 33 min since (101% of 32)
BACK Jordan back 11/26 after 9, 15 min since (138% of 11)
NEW Jackson 21 to 31 min over the last 5
NEW Holiday 15 to 25 min over the last 5
NEW Strawther 11 to 16 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 12/08 · 1 day's restBACK Murray back 11/29 after 11, 26 min since (79% of 33)
BACK Gordon back 12/02 after 4, 32 min since (99% of 32)
NEW Jackson 21 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Holiday 15 to 24 min over the last 4
DEN availability going into 12/11 · 2 days' restBACK Murray back 11/29 after 11, 28 min since (85% of 33)
BACK Gordon back 12/02 after 4, 29 min since (89% of 32)
NEW Jackson 21 to 26 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 12/12 · back-to-backBACK Murray back 12/06 after 2, 30 min since (92% of 33)
BACK Gordon back 12/02 after 4, 29 min since (89% of 32)
DEN availability going into 12/14 · 1 day's restBACK Murray back 12/06 after 2, 30 min since (92% of 33)
BACK Gordon back 12/02 after 4, 29 min since (91% of 32)
NEW Strawther 11 to 16 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 114 a night and allowing 110, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 25 free throws a game; Leonard at 23 and George at 18 a game. Without Tucker (3 straight). 3 days' rest. Denver comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 116, shooting 52 percent and 39 from three, 22 free throws a game; Jokić at 32 and Jackson at 22 a game. Without Murray (2 straight). 3 days' rest.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the defense, the Clippers allowing 110 a night to Denver's 116. Call it the Clippers 115, Denver 113, Denver keeping it close.
11/27 vs DEN 104-113 — LAC notes
LAC lost 104-113. LAC shot 41% (35 of 85) to DEN's 48%, 6 of 20 from three, and went to the line 34 times to DEN's 28 — 28 points from the stripe to their 15. Leonard led with 31 (10 of 26, 2 of 5 from three, 9 of 9 at the line); Zubac added 23, Westbrook 14. Q3 was theirs, 32-19, turning a 2-point deficit into a 11-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 94-72 against them. They led by as many as 11.
11/29 @ SAC 131-117 — LAC notes
LAC won 131-117. LAC shot 54% (50 of 93) to SAC's 47%, 14 of 28 from three, and got to the line 22 times to SAC's 28. LAC turned it over 4 times to SAC's 14. The glass went 37-47 against them. Leonard led with 34 (14 of 18, 2 of 3 from three, 4 of 6 at the line); Harden added 26, George 19. The hinge was Q2, 37-23: a lead of 8 became 22, and the lead reached 25. Zubac was the night's best plus/minus at +23.
11/30 @ GSW 114-120 — LAC notes
LAC lost 114-120. LAC took 13 more shots (95 to 82), fed by 15 offensive rebounds, but shot 44% to GSW's 50%, 12 of 32 from three, and got to the line 24 times to GSW's 31. Leonard led with 23 (9 of 17); Harden added 18, Zubac 18. Q4 was theirs, 37-34, the deficit cut from 9 to 6, but the other 3 periods went 86-77 against them. Theis's -20 in 15 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/02 vs GSW 113-112 — LAC notes
LAC won 113-112. LAC shot 49% (44 of 90) to GSW's 44%, 13 of 39 from three, and got to the line 14 times to GSW's 24. George led with 25 (8 of 17, 4 of 8 from three); Harden added 21, Leonard 20. The hinge was Q3, 37-25: the deficit went from 19 to 7. LAC trailed 48-67 at the half and won the second half 65-45. Powell was the night's best plus/minus at +14.
12/06 vs DEN 111-102 — LAC notes
LAC won 111-102. LAC shot 46% (40 of 87) to DEN's 42%, 12 of 27 from three, and went to the line 25 times to DEN's 9 — 19 points from the stripe to their 8. George led with 25 (8 of 20, 5 of 9 from three); Harden added 20, Leonard 17. The hinge was Q2, 40-21: LAC came in trailing by 15 and left it ahead by 4. Powell was the night's best plus/minus at +24.
12/08 @ UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 102 a night and allowing 116, shooting 41 percent and 34 from three, 19 free throws a game; George at 13 and Sexton at 13 a game. Without Markkanen (6 straight), Clarkson (3 straight), Olynyk (2 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 113, shooting 47 percent and 39 from three, 24 free throws a game; Leonard at 25 and Harden at 19 a game. Without Coffey (2 straight), Tucker (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Clippers win, on the road, and the game turns on the turnovers, Utah giving it away 16 times a game to the Clippers' 9 and the arc, the Clippers at 39 percent from three to Utah's 34. Call it the Clippers 115, Utah 110.
12/11 vs POR — 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 117 a night and allowing 111, shooting 48 percent and 41 from three, 21 free throws a game; Leonard at 27 and George at 21 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Coffey (3 straight), Tucker (5 straight). 2 days' rest. Portland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 112, shooting 43 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; Sharpe at 23 and Grant at 19 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Grant (2 straight), Ayton (2 straight), Mays (6 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the turnovers, Portland giving it away 14 times a game to the Clippers' 9 and the arc, the Clippers at 41 percent from three to Portland's 36. Call it the Clippers 115, Portland 107.
12/12 vs SAC — 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 117 a night and allowing 113, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 21 free throws a game; Leonard at 27 and George at 21 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Coffey (4 straight), Tucker (6 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Sacramento comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 120, shooting 47 percent and 41 from three, 22 free throws a game; Fox at 32 and Monk at 19 a game. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the defense, the Clippers allowing 113 a night to Sacramento's 120 and the glass, where Sacramento has been plus-4 a night and the Clippers minus-0. Call it the Clippers 118, Sacramento 114, Sacramento keeping it close.
12/14 vs GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 5-0 over their last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 109, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 21 free throws a game; Leonard at 29 and George at 20 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Tucker (7 straight). One day's rest. Golden State comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 118, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 28 free throws a game; Curry at 27 and Thompson at 16 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Payton II (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the glass, where Golden State has been plus-9 a night and the Clippers plus-3 and the defense, the Clippers allowing 109 a night to Golden State's 118. Call it the Clippers 118, Golden State 112.
11/27 @ LAC 113-104 — DEN notes
DEN won 113-104. DEN shot 48% (44 of 92) to LAC's 41%, 10 of 22 from three, and got to the line 28 times to LAC's 34. Jackson led with 35 (15 of 19, 3 of 4 from three); Jordan added 21, Caldwell-Pope 12. The hinge was Q4, 36-16: DEN came in trailing by 11 and left it ahead by 9. Jackson was the night's best plus/minus at +25.
11/29 vs HOU 134-124 — DEN notes
DEN won 134-124. DEN shot 51% (48 of 95) to HOU's 55%, 19 of 43 from three, and went to the line 26 times to HOU's 19 — 19 points from the stripe to their 14. DEN turned it over 3 times to HOU's 8. Jokić led with 32 (12 of 19, 7 of 8 at the line); Porter Jr. added 30, Murray 16. The hinge was Q1, 41-26: from level to 15 ahead, and the lead reached 19. Jokić was the night's best plus/minus at +29.
12/01 @ PHX 119-111 — DEN notes
DEN won 119-111. DEN shot 57% (50 of 88) to PHX's 46%, 12 of 32 from three, and got to the line 12 times to PHX's 26. The glass went 32-43 against them. Jokić led with 21 (9 of 18, 0 of 3 from three, 3 of 6 at the line); Jackson added 20, Porter Jr. 19. The hinge was Q1, 41-30: from level to 11 ahead, and the lead reached 17. Porter Jr. was the night's best plus/minus at +8.
12/02 @ SAC 117-123 — DEN notes
DEN lost 117-123. DEN shot 49% (49 of 99) to SAC's 48%, 6 of 25 from three. Jokić led with 36 (13 of 23, 1 of 4 from three, 9 of 12 at the line); Jackson added 20, Gordon 17. Q1 was theirs, 30-25, but the other 3 periods went 98-87 against them. Jordan's -17 in 10 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/06 @ LAC 102-111 — DEN notes
DEN lost 102-111. DEN took 11 more shots (98 to 87), fed by 14 offensive rebounds, but shot 42% to LAC's 46%, 12 of 31 from three, and got to the line just 9 times against 20 fouls committed. Murray led with 23 (10 of 18, 2 of 7 from three); Jokić added 22, Porter Jr. 18. Q1 was theirs, 36-21, but the other 3 periods went 90-66 against them. They led by as many as 15. Braun's -17 in 16 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/08 vs HOU — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 115, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 19 free throws a game; Jokić at 28 and Jackson at 21 a game. One day's rest. Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 110, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 21 free throws a game; Sengun at 23 and Ja. Green at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Thompson (14 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-6 a night and Denver minus-2 and the turnovers, Houston giving it away 14 times a game to Denver's 9. Call it Denver 113, Houston 110, Houston keeping it close.
12/11 @ ATL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Atlanta comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 127, shooting 43 percent and 35 from three, 23 free throws a game; Young at 30 and Murray at 20 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Johnson (6 straight), Fernando (4 straight). 2 days' rest. Denver comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 117, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 19 free throws a game; Jokić at 27 and Murray at 20 a game. That is 3 straight losses. 2 days' rest.
So: Atlanta wins, and the game turns on the defense, Denver allowing 117 a night to Atlanta's 127. Call it Atlanta 119, Denver 118, Denver keeping it close.
12/12 @ CHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Chicago comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 115, shooting 46 percent and 43 from three, 23 free throws a game; DeRozan at 28 and White at 26 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without LaVine (5 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Denver comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 116, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 19 free throws a game; Jokić at 25 and Murray at 24 a game. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Chicago wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Chicago has been plus-8 a night and Denver minus-1 and the arc, Chicago at 43 percent from three to Denver's 36. Call it Chicago 116, Denver 113, Denver keeping it close.
12/14 vs BKN — 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 114 a night and allowing 115, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 23 free throws a game; Murray at 24 and Jokić at 22 a game. One day's rest. Brooklyn comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 111, shooting 48 percent and 39 from three, 24 free throws a game; Bridges at 28 and Thomas at 17 a game. Without Simmons (16 straight), Smith Jr. (3 straight), Walker IV (5 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Denver wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Denver 115, Brooklyn 114, Brooklyn keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
LACDT D. Theis
IZ I. Zubac
JH J. Harden
KB K. Brown
KL K. Leonard
NP N. Powell
PG P. George
RW R. Westbrook
TM T. Mann
DENAG A. Gordon
CB C. Braun
DJ D. Jordan
JM J. Murray
JS J. Strawther
JO Jokic
KC K. Caldwell-Pope
MP M. Porter Jr.
NJ N. Jokić
PW P. Watson
RJ R. Jackson
LAC/DEN 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
Clippers overcome Jokic's triple-double to beat Nuggets 111-102 and snap 8-game skid against champs
LOS ANGELES -- — 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.