Game ID: 22400515
LA Clippers @ Denver Nuggets
Wednesday, January 8, 2025 at 9:00 PM ET
Ball Arena, Denver, CO
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
DEN 33 33 32 28 126LAC 19 31 27 26 103
DEN vs LAC ScoutingDEN vs 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.
DEN availability going into 1/01 · 1 day's restOUT Gordon missed 3 since 12/27, out tonight
OUT Šarić missed 16 since 11/25, out tonight
OUT Pickett missed 2 since 12/28, returns tonight: 13 min (104% of 13)
OUT Nnaji missed 2 since 12/28, returns tonight: 3 min (33% of 10)
DEN availability going into 1/03 · 1 day's restOUT Gordon missed 4 since 12/27, out tonight
OUT Šarić missed 17 since 11/25, out tonight
BACK Pickett back 1/01 after 2, 13 min since (104% of 13)
BACK Nnaji back 1/01 after 2, 3 min since (33% of 10)
DEN availability going into 1/04 · back-to-backOUT Gordon missed 5 since 12/27, out tonight
OUT Šarić missed 18 since 11/25, out tonight
BACK Pickett back 1/01 after 2, 13 min since (104% of 13)
BACK Nnaji back 1/01 after 2, 3 min since (33% of 10)
DEN availability going into 1/07 · 2 days' restOUT Gordon missed 6 since 12/27, out tonight
OUT Šarić missed 19 since 11/25, returns tonight: 16 min (126% of 13)
OUT Nnaji missed 2 since 1/03, returns tonight: 5 min (49% of 10)
BACK Pickett back 1/01 after 2, 8 min since (67% of 13)
DEN availability going into 1/08 · back-to-backOUT Gordon missed 7 since 12/27, out tonight
BACK Šarić back 1/07 after 19, 16 min since (126% of 13)
BACK Pickett back 1/01 after 2, 6 min since (46% of 13)
BACK Nnaji back 1/01 after 2, 4 min since (41% of 10)
DEN availability going into 1/10 · 1 day's restOUT Jokić missed 2 since 1/07, returns tonight: 38 min (102% of 37)
OUT Gordon missed 8 since 12/27, out tonight
BACK Šarić back 1/07 after 19, 18 min since (140% of 13)
BACK Pickett back 1/01 after 2, 5 min since (43% of 13)
BACK Nnaji back 1/01 after 2, 4 min since (42% of 10)
NEW Strawther 20 to 27 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 1/12 · 1 day's restOUT Gordon missed 9 since 12/27, returns tonight: 18 min (61% of 30)
BACK Jokić back 1/10 after 2, 38 min since (102% of 37)
BACK Šarić back 1/07 after 19, 18 min since (140% of 13)
BACK Nnaji back 1/07 after 2, 5 min since (47% of 10)
NEW Westbrook 27 to 33 min over the last 5
NEW Watson 23 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Strawther 20 to 28 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 1/14 · 1 day's restOUT Šarić missed 2 since 1/10, out tonight
OUT Nnaji missed 2 since 1/10, returns tonight: 4 min (34% of 10)
BACK Jokić back 1/10 after 2, 38 min since (103% of 37)
BACK Gordon back 1/12 after 9, 18 min since (61% of 30)
NEW Westbrook 27 to 34 min over the last 5
NEW Watson 23 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Strawther 20 to 28 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 1/15 · back-to-backOUT Šarić missed 3 since 1/10, returns tonight: 19 min (144% of 13)
BACK Jokić back 1/10 after 2, 35 min since (94% of 37)
BACK Gordon back 1/12 after 9, 18 min since (59% of 30)
BACK Nnaji back 1/07 after 2, 4 min since (42% of 10)
NEW Watson 23 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Strawther 20 to 27 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 12/31 · back-to-backOUT Mann missed 9 since 12/04, out tonight
OUT Hyland missed 5 since 12/19, returns tonight: 17 min (156% of 11)
BACK Jones Jr. back 12/19 after 2, 24 min since (101% of 24)
NEW Powell 33 to 39 min over the last 5
NEW Dunn 24 to 30 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 1/02 · 1 day's restOUT Mann missed 10 since 12/04, out tonight
BACK Hyland back 12/31 after 5, 17 min since (156% of 11)
NEW Dunn 24 to 30 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 1/04 · 1 day's restOUT Mann missed 11 since 12/04, returns tonight: 16 min (81% of 20)
BACK Hyland back 12/31 after 5, 12 min since (110% of 11)
LAC availability going into 1/06 · 1 day's restBACK Mann back 1/04 after 11, 16 min since (81% of 20)
BACK Hyland back 12/31 after 5, 10 min since (89% of 11)
LAC availability going into 1/08 · 1 day's restOUT Bamba missed 2 since 1/04, returns tonight: 15 min (122% of 13)
BACK Mann back 1/04 after 11, 13 min since (65% of 20)
BACK Hyland back 12/31 after 5, 10 min since (89% of 11)
LAC availability going into 1/13 · 4 days' restBACK Mann back 1/04 after 11, 13 min since (64% of 20)
BACK Bamba back 1/08 after 2, 15 min since (122% of 13)
BACK Hyland back 12/31 after 5, 10 min since (88% of 11)
NEW Coffey 24 to 29 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 1/15 · 1 day's restBACK Mann back 1/04 after 11, 13 min since (64% of 20)
BACK Bamba back 1/08 after 2, 12 min since (94% of 13)
LAC availability going into 1/16 · back-to-backBACK Mann back 1/04 after 11, 12 min since (59% of 20)
BACK Bamba back 1/08 after 2, 14 min since (109% of 13)
LAC availability going into 1/19 · 2 days' restBACK Bamba back 1/08 after 2, 15 min since (115% of 13)
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 122 a night and allowing 117, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 19 free throws a game; Jokić at 36 and Porter Jr. at 21 a game. Without Gordon (7 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. The Clippers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 113, shooting 45 percent and 33 from three, 21 free throws a game; Powell at 20 and Harden at 19 a game. One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, the Clippers giving it away 16 times a game to Denver's 10. Call it Denver 116, the Clippers 112, the Clippers keeping it close.
1/01 vs ATL 139-120 — DEN notes
DEN won 139-120. DEN shot 56% (53 of 94) to ATL's 45%, 12 of 30 from three. Jokić led with 23 (8 of 16, 6 of 6 at the line); Murray added 21, Porter Jr. 21. The hinge was Q3, 41-24: a lead of 3 became 20, and the lead reached 27. Jokić was the night's best plus/minus at +31.
1/03 vs SAS 110-113 — DEN notes
DEN lost 110-113. DEN shot 43% (42 of 97) to SAS's 46%, 15 of 39 from three. DEN turned it over 8 times to SAS's 13. The glass went 46-56 against them. Jokić led with 41 (15 of 36, 3 of 10 from three, 8 of 9 at the line); Porter Jr. added 22, Murray 14. Q3 was theirs, 38-27, turning a 8-point deficit into a 3-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 86-72 against them.
1/04 @ SAS 122-111 — DEN notes
DEN won 122-111 in 1 overtime. DEN shot 44% (47 of 108) to SAS's 39%, 10 of 33 from three. DEN turned it over 7 times to SAS's 12. Jokić led with 46 (19 of 35, 3 of 8 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Porter Jr. added 28, Murray 13. The hinge was Q4, 27-16: DEN came in trailing by 11 and left it level. DEN trailed 54-55 at the half and won the second half 68-56. Porter Jr. was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
1/07 vs BOS 106-118 — DEN notes
DEN lost 106-118. DEN shot 46% (40 of 87) to BOS's 50%, 14 of 36 from three. DEN turned it over 16 times to BOS's 11, and BOS turned those into 11 steals. Westbrook led with 26 (9 of 18, 4 of 9 from three); Murray added 19, Strawther 19. Q2 was theirs, 32-20, the deficit cut from 12 to 0, but the other 3 periods went 98-74 against them. Porter Jr.'s -16 in 36 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/08 vs LAC 126-103 — DEN notes
DEN won 126-103. DEN shot 55% (49 of 89) to LAC's 38%, 17 of 35 from three, and got to the line 17 times to LAC's 40. Murray led with 21 (7 of 13, 4 of 6 from three); Westbrook added 19, M. Porter Jr. 19. The hinge was Q1, 33-19: from level to 14 ahead, and the lead reached 29. Murray was the night's best plus/minus at +24.
1/10 vs BKN — 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 121 a night and allowing 113, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 18 free throws a game; Jokić at 37 and Porter Jr. at 21 a game. Without Jokić (2 straight), Gordon (8 straight). One day's rest. Brooklyn comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 103 a night and allowing 118, shooting 43 percent and 32 from three, 20 free throws a game; Clowney at 13 and Russell at 13 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without C. Johnson (3 straight), Thomas (3 straight), Simmons (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the arc, Denver at 39 percent from three to Brooklyn's 32 and the turnovers, Brooklyn giving it away 15 times a game to Denver's 11. Call it Denver 119, Brooklyn 109, Denver by 10.
1/12 @ DAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Dallas comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 114, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; Grimes at 18 and Hardy at 17 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Irving (4 straight), Edwards (5 straight). 2 days' rest. Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 110, shooting 48 percent and 39 from three, 21 free throws a game; Jokić at 41 and Porter Jr. at 20 a game. Without Gordon (9 straight). One day's rest.
So: Dallas wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Dallas has been plus-5 a night and Denver plus-1 and the turnovers, Dallas giving it away 14 times a game to Denver's 11. Call it Dallas 116, Denver 115, Denver keeping it close.
1/14 @ DAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Dallas comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 115, shooting 44 percent and 36 from three, 23 free throws a game; Washington at 17 and Hardy at 15 a game. Without Irving (5 straight), Edwards (6 straight). One day's rest. Denver comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 108, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 22 free throws a game; Jokić at 33 and Westbrook at 20 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-6 a night and Dallas plus-1 and the defense, Denver allowing 108 a night to Dallas's 115. Call it Denver 115, Dallas 114, Dallas keeping it close.
1/15 vs HOU — 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 117 a night and allowing 105, shooting 51 percent and 38 from three, 21 free throws a game; Murray at 22 and Jokić at 21 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 10 a night. Second night of a back-to-back. Houston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 114, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 25 free throws a game; Green at 32 and Sengun at 21 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Smith Jr. (5 straight), Eason (12 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-10 a night and Houston plus-4 and the defense, Denver allowing 105 a night to Houston's 114. Call it Denver 115, Houston 112, Houston keeping it close.
12/31 @ SAS 86-122 — LAC notes
LAC lost 86-122. LAC shot 34% (30 of 87) to SAS's 49%, 11 of 41 from three. The glass went 41-58 against them. Harden led with 17 (5 of 11, 2 of 6 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Powell added 15, Coffey 14. Q2 was theirs, 26-32, but the other 3 periods went 90-60 against them. Harden's -27 in 25 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/02 @ OKC 98-116 — LAC notes
LAC lost 98-116. LAC shot 47% (38 of 81) to OKC's 50%, 11 of 32 from three. LAC turned it over 19 times to OKC's 9, and OKC turned those into 11 steals. The glass went 45-35 for them. Coffey led with 26 (10 of 14, 6 of 8 from three); Bamba added 12, Porter Jr. 11. Q1 was theirs, 30-22, but the other 3 periods went 94-68 against them. They led by as many as 16. Dunn's -26 in 28 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/04 vs ATL 131-105 — LAC notes
LAC won 131-105. LAC shot 55% (53 of 96) to ATL's 43%, 13 of 36 from three. LAC turned it over 17 times to ATL's 22. Powell led with 20 (8 of 16, 4 of 10 from three); Zubac added 18, Coffey 17. The hinge was Q2, 45-26: a lead of 1 became 20, and the lead reached 29. Powell was the night's best plus/minus at +28.
1/06 @ MIN 106-108 — LAC notes
LAC lost 106-108. LAC shot 42% (37 of 89) to MIN's 45%, 12 of 35 from three, and went to the line 25 times to MIN's 17 — 20 points from the stripe to their 10. Powell led with 25 (7 of 17, 2 of 5 from three, 9 of 10 at the line); Harden added 22, Zubac 17. Q1 was theirs, 27-16, but the other 3 periods went 92-79 against them. They led by as many as 19. Leonard's -17 in 21 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/08 @ DEN 103-126 — LAC notes
LAC lost 103-126. LAC shot 38% (30 of 80) to DEN's 55%, 11 of 38 from three, and went to the line 40 times to DEN's 17 — 32 points from the stripe to their 11. Powell led with 30 (8 of 17, 4 of 10 from three, 10 of 13 at the line); Harden added 16, Zubac 10. Q2 was theirs, 31-33, but the other 3 periods went 93-72 against them. Zubac's -21 in 29 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/13 vs MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 1-4 over their last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 115, shooting 43 percent and 32 from three, 23 free throws a game; Powell at 19 and Harden at 16 a game. 4 days' rest. Miami comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 109, shooting 44 percent and 33 from three, 21 free throws a game; Herro at 22 and Jović at 16 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Butler III (5 straight), Richardson (24 straight). One day's rest.
So: Miami wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where the Clippers have been minus-3 a night and Miami minus-9 and the defense, Miami allowing 109 a night to the Clippers' 115. Call it Miami 110, the Clippers 109, the Clippers keeping it close.
1/15 vs BKN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 111, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; Powell at 22 and Harden at 18 a game. One day's rest. Brooklyn comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 115, shooting 44 percent and 33 from three, 21 free throws a game; Clowney at 15 and K. Johnson at 14 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Thomas (6 straight), Watford (14 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: The Clippers win, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it the Clippers 114, Brooklyn 107.
1/16 @ POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Portland comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 117, shooting 46 percent and 39 from three, 16 free throws a game; Simons at 23 and Sharpe at 21 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Grant (8 straight), Thybulle (39 straight), Williams III (3 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 101, shooting 48 percent and 34 from three, 24 free throws a game; Powell at 24 and Harden at 19 a game. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: The Clippers win, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, the Clippers allowing 101 a night to Portland's 117 and the line, where the Clippers take 24 free throws a game to Portland's 16. Call it the Clippers 113, Portland 109, Portland keeping it close.
1/19 vs LAL — 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 112 a night and allowing 98, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 26 free throws a game; Powell at 25 and Harden at 21 a game. That is 3 straight wins. 2 days' rest. The Lakers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 114, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 20 free throws a game; Davis at 26 and James at 22 a game. They have lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Finney-Smith (2 straight), Reddish (2 straight), Vanderbilt (33 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the defense, the Clippers allowing 98 a night to the Lakers' 114 and the glass, where the Clippers have been plus-2 a night and the Lakers minus-7. Call it the Clippers 114, the Lakers 104, the Clippers by 10.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
DENCB C. Braun
DJ D. Jordan
DŠ D. Šarić
HT H. Tyson
JM J. Murray
JP J. Pickett
JS J. Strawther
MP M. Porter Jr.
PW P. Watson
RW R. Westbrook
SA Saric
TA T. Alexander
ZN Z. Nnaji
LACAC A. Coffey
BH B. Hyland
DJ D. Jones Jr.
IZ I. Zubac
JH J. Harden
JM J. Miller
KB K. Brown
KD K. Dunn
KP K. Porter Jr.
MB M. Bamba
NB N. Batum
NP N. Powell
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
Jamal Murray and Russell Westbrook help the Nuggets rout the Clippers, 126-103
DENVER -- — Jamal Murray had 21 points and nine assists, Russell Westbrook added 19 points and eight assists and the Denver Nuggets beat the Los Angeles Clippers 126-103 on Wednesday night in a matchup of short-handed teams.
Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard was not available after he flew back to Los Angeles before the game to help his family deal with the wildfires.
Nuggets center Nikola Jokic was out for the second straight game due to an illness. Denver is 2/3 without him this season.
Norman Powell scored 30 points to finish with a 27.6 average in the Clippers' four games against the Nuggets. James Harden had 16 points and Ivica Zubac added 10.
Denver took control with a 20-3 run in the first quarter and led 55-30 late in the second before Los Angeles cut it to 16 at halftime.
The Nuggets used another spurt midway through the third quarter to put it away.
Takeaways Clippers: Powell came into the night hitting 85.2% percent of his free throws but missed 3 of 6 in the third quarter. The team missed 5 of 15 in the period.
Nuggets: Coach Michael Malone made a change from Tuesday night by starting DeAndre Jordan in Jokic’s place and bringing Dario Saric off the bench. Jordan finished with a season-high 12 points and tied his season high with nine rebounds.
Key moment Jordan had a big third quarter. He made two free throws, threw down two alley-oops and tipped in a feed from Westbrook that helped the lead grow from 16 to 27.
Key stat The Nuggets improved to 8-0 on the second leg of back-to-backs. They are 2-6 in the first game of a set.
Up next The Clippers return home to play Charlotte on Saturday night. The Nuggets host Brooklyn on Friday night.