Game ID: 22401213
LA Clippers @ Denver Nuggets
Friday, December 13, 2024 at 9:00 PM ET
Ball Arena, Denver, CO
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
DEN 29 19 35 37 120LAC 22 25 22 29 98
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 12/03 · 1 day's restOUT Šarić missed 3 since 11/25, out tonight
OUT Pickett missed 12 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK Jokić back 11/22 after 3, 36 min since (97% of 37)
BACK Gordon back 12/01 after 10, 24 min since (79% of 30)
NEW Watson 23 to 31 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 12/05 · 1 day's restOUT Šarić missed 4 since 11/25, out tonight
OUT Pickett missed 13 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 2 since 12/01, out tonight
BACK Gordon back 12/01 after 10, 28 min since (94% of 30)
DEN availability going into 12/07 · 1 day's restOUT Šarić missed 5 since 11/25, out tonight
OUT Pickett missed 14 since 11/04, returns tonight: 16 min (124% of 13)
OUT Jordan missed 3 since 12/01, returns tonight: 9 min (81% of 12)
BACK Gordon back 12/01 after 10, 30 min since (100% of 30)
DEN availability going into 12/08 · back-to-backOUT Šarić missed 6 since 11/25, out tonight
BACK Gordon back 12/01 after 10, 30 min since (100% of 30)
BACK Pickett back 12/07 after 14, 16 min since (124% of 13)
BACK Jordan back 12/07 after 3, 9 min since (81% of 12)
DEN availability going into 12/13 · 4 days' restOUT Murray missed 2 since 12/07, returns tonight: 32 min (85% of 37)
OUT Šarić missed 7 since 11/25, out tonight
BACK Gordon back 12/01 after 10, 28 min since (94% of 30)
BACK Pickett back 12/07 after 14, 17 min since (130% of 13)
BACK Jordan back 12/07 after 3, 10 min since (84% of 12)
DEN availability going into 12/16 · 2 days' restOUT Šarić missed 8 since 11/25, out tonight
BACK Murray back 12/13 after 2, 32 min since (85% of 37)
BACK Pickett back 12/07 after 14, 12 min since (98% of 13)
BACK Jordan back 12/07 after 3, 11 min since (98% of 12)
DEN availability going into 12/19 · 2 days' restOUT Šarić missed 9 since 11/25, out tonight
BACK Murray back 12/13 after 2, 35 min since (94% of 37)
BACK Pickett back 12/07 after 14, 12 min since (98% of 13)
BACK Jordan back 12/07 after 3, 11 min since (95% of 12)
DEN availability going into 12/22 · 2 days' restOUT Šarić missed 10 since 11/25, out tonight
OUT Pickett missed 2 since 12/16, out tonight
OUT Nnaji missed 2 since 12/16, out tonight
BACK Murray back 12/13 after 2, 36 min since (97% of 37)
BACK Jordan back 12/07 after 3, 11 min since (95% of 12)
DEN availability going into 12/23 · back-to-backOUT Šarić missed 11 since 11/25, out tonight
OUT Pickett missed 3 since 12/16, returns tonight: 23 min (183% of 13)
OUT Nnaji missed 3 since 12/16, returns tonight: 4 min (40% of 10)
BACK Murray back 12/13 after 2, 37 min since (101% of 37)
LAC availability going into 12/01 · 1 day's restOUT Powell missed 6 since 11/20, returns tonight: 24 min (75% of 33)
BACK Hyland back 11/24 after 4, 8 min since (75% of 11)
NEW Miller 11 to 17 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 12/03 · 1 day's restOUT Hyland missed 2 since 11/29, returns tonight: 7 min (59% of 11)
BACK Powell back 12/01 after 6, 24 min since (75% of 33)
NEW Miller 11 to 18 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 12/04 · back-to-backOUT Porter Jr. missed 2 since 12/01, out tonight
BACK Powell back 12/01 after 6, 25 min since (76% of 33)
BACK Hyland back 12/03 after 2, 7 min since (59% of 11)
NEW Miller 11 to 18 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 12/08 · 3 days' restOUT Porter Jr. missed 3 since 12/01, returns tonight: 37 min (191% of 20)
BACK Powell back 12/01 after 6, 25 min since (76% of 33)
BACK Hyland back 12/03 after 2, 15 min since (133% of 11)
NEW Miller 11 to 19 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 12/13 · 4 days' restOUT Mann missed 2 since 12/04, out tonight
BACK Powell back 12/01 after 6, 28 min since (86% of 33)
BACK Porter Jr. back 12/08 after 3, 37 min since (191% of 20)
BACK Hyland back 12/03 after 2, 19 min since (172% of 11)
NEW Miller 11 to 21 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 12/16 · 2 days' restOUT Mann missed 3 since 12/04, out tonight
BACK Powell back 12/01 after 6, 29 min since (87% of 33)
BACK Porter Jr. back 12/08 after 3, 31 min since (157% of 20)
BACK Hyland back 12/03 after 2, 20 min since (177% of 11)
NEW Miller 11 to 22 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 12/19 · 2 days' restOUT Jones Jr. missed 2 since 12/13, returns tonight: 20 min (85% of 24)
OUT Mann missed 4 since 12/04, out tonight
BACK Porter Jr. back 12/08 after 3, 29 min since (149% of 20)
BACK Hyland back 12/03 after 2, 18 min since (163% of 11)
NEW Miller 11 to 23 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 12/21 · 1 day's restOUT Mann missed 5 since 12/04, out tonight
BACK Jones Jr. back 12/19 after 2, 20 min since (85% of 24)
BACK Porter Jr. back 12/08 after 3, 27 min since (137% of 20)
NEW Hyland 11 to 21 min over the last 4
NEW Miller 11 to 19 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 12/23 · 1 day's restOUT Mann missed 6 since 12/04, out tonight
OUT Hyland missed 2 since 12/19, out tonight
BACK Jones Jr. back 12/19 after 2, 19 min since (79% of 24)
BACK Porter Jr. back 12/08 after 3, 27 min since (137% of 20)
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 122 a night and allowing 120, shooting 53 percent and 35 from three, 25 free throws a game; Jokić at 39 and Porter Jr. at 20 a game. Without Murray (2 straight). 4 days' rest. The Clippers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 109, shooting 45 percent and 38 from three, 17 free throws a game; Powell at 25 and Harden at 22 a game. They have lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Mann (2 straight). 4 days' rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the defense, the Clippers allowing 109 a night to Denver's 120 and the line, where Denver takes 25 free throws a game to the Clippers' 17. Call it Denver 115, the Clippers 112, the Clippers keeping it close.
12/03 vs GSW 119-115 — DEN notes
DEN won 119-115. DEN shot 51% (40 of 79) to GSW's 46%, 11 of 24 from three, and went to the line 35 times to GSW's 21 — 28 points from the stripe to their 15. The glass went 38-48 against them. Jokić led with 38 (14 of 24, 3 of 4 from three, 7 of 9 at the line); Porter Jr. added 22, Gordon 15. The hinge was Q3, 33-28: from level to 5 ahead. Jokić was the night's best plus/minus at +23.
12/05 @ CLE 114-126 — DEN notes
DEN lost 114-126. DEN shot 48% (46 of 96) to CLE's 50%, 6 of 24 from three, and went to the line 22 times to CLE's 16 — 16 points from the stripe to their 10. Jokić led with 27 (13 of 26, 0 of 3 from three); Porter Jr. added 24, Murray 19. Q2 was theirs, 35-29, the deficit cut from 10 to 4, but the other 3 periods went 97-79 against them. Westbrook's -15 in 16 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/07 @ WAS 113-122 — DEN notes
DEN lost 113-122. DEN shot 48% (46 of 95) to WAS's 48%, 5 of 25 from three. Jokić led with 56 (22 of 39, 3 of 6 from three, 9 of 13 at the line); Strawther added 18, Braun 14. Q3 was theirs, 36-30, the deficit cut from 12 to 6, but the other 3 periods went 92-77 against them. Watson's -17 in 26 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/08 @ ATL 141-111 — DEN notes
DEN won 141-111. DEN shot 63% (56 of 89) to ATL's 41%, 12 of 27 from three. DEN turned it over 18 times to ATL's 12, and ATL turned those into 12 steals. Jokić led with 48 (17 of 29, 3 of 6 from three, 11 of 13 at the line); Porter Jr. added 26, Braun 17. The hinge was Q1, 38-23: from level to 15 ahead, and the lead reached 32. Braun was the night's best plus/minus at +34.
12/13 vs LAC 120-98 — DEN notes
DEN won 120-98. DEN shot 55% (42 of 77) to LAC's 45%, 10 of 29 from three, and went to the line 32 times to LAC's 18 — 26 points from the stripe to their 10. The glass went 46-31 for them. Murray led with 20 (8 of 16, 2 of 5 from three); Porter Jr. added 17, Jokić 16. The hinge was Q3, 35-22: a lead of 1 became 14, and the lead reached 25. Westbrook was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
12/16 @ SAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Sacramento comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 109, shooting 49 percent and 40 from three, 22 free throws a game; Sabonis at 23 and DeRozan at 22 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Lyles (8 straight). 3 days' rest. Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 114, shooting 53 percent and 34 from three, 28 free throws a game; Jokić at 37 and Porter Jr. at 20 a game. 2 days' rest.
So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Denver giving it away 17 times a game to Sacramento's 11 and the arc, Sacramento at 40 percent from three to Denver's 34. Call it Sacramento 119, Denver 114.
12/19 @ POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Portland comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 122, shooting 45 percent and 32 from three, 17 free throws a game; Simons at 17 and Grant at 17 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Ayton (2 straight), Thybulle (26 straight), Murray (2 straight). 3 days' rest. Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 117, shooting 53 percent and 32 from three, 26 free throws a game; Jokić at 33 and Murray at 22 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 6 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: Denver wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-6 a night and Portland minus-5 and the line, where Denver takes 26 free throws a game to Portland's 17. Call it Denver 119, Portland 113.
12/22 @ NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 118, shooting 43 percent and 36 from three, 22 free throws a game; Murphy III at 23 and McCollum at 20 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Williamson (20 straight), Alvarado (18 straight), Payton (7 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 117, shooting 54 percent and 36 from three, 26 free throws a game; Jokić at 35 and Murray at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: Denver wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-5 a night and New Orleans minus-3. Call it Denver 119, New Orleans 112.
12/23 vs PHX — 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 129 a night and allowing 119, shooting 54 percent and 38 from three, 27 free throws a game; Jokić at 29 and Murray at 25 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Second night of a back-to-back. Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 121, shooting 51 percent and 43 from three, 22 free throws a game; Durant at 32 and Booker at 26 a game. One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-6 a night and Phoenix minus-1 and the arc, Phoenix at 43 percent from three to Denver's 38. Call it Denver 122, Phoenix 117.
12/01 vs DEN 126-122 — LAC notes
LAC won 126-122. LAC shot 48% (43 of 90) to DEN's 58%, 18 of 39 from three, and went to the line 27 times to DEN's 19 — 22 points from the stripe to their 10. Harden led with 39 (10 of 26, 6 of 15 from three, 13 of 13 at the line); Powell added 28, Mann 15. The hinge was Q1, 32-23: from level to 9 ahead. Harden was the night's best plus/minus at +14.
12/03 vs POR 127-105 — LAC notes
LAC won 127-105. LAC shot 55% (47 of 85) to POR's 51%, 19 of 37 from three. Powell led with 30 (11 of 15, 5 of 7 from three); Harden added 23, Coffey 19. The hinge was Q4, 36-27: a lead of 13 became 22, and the lead reached 26. Harden was the night's best plus/minus at +27.
12/04 vs MIN 80-108 — LAC notes
LAC lost 80-108. LAC shot 35% (29 of 83) to MIN's 48%, 11 of 40 from three. LAC turned it over 21 times to MIN's 14, and MIN turned those into 15 steals. Hyland led with 18 (5 of 12, 5 of 10 from three); Jones Jr. added 14, Coffey 12. Q4 was theirs, 30-22, the deficit cut from 36 to 28, but the other 3 periods went 86-50 against them. Coffey's -35 in 28 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/08 vs HOU 106-117 — LAC notes
LAC lost 106-117. LAC took 10 more shots (92 to 82), but shot 45% to HOU's 49%, 11 of 34 from three, and got to the line 16 times to HOU's 26. LAC turned it over 7 times to HOU's 15. The glass went 33-50 against them. Hyland led with 22 (7 of 13, 5 of 10 from three); Zubac added 21, Porter Jr. 19. Q4 was theirs, 23-22, the deficit cut from 12 to 11, but the other 3 periods went 95-83 against them. Porter Jr.'s -18 in 37 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/13 @ DEN 98-120 — LAC notes
LAC lost 98-120. LAC shot 45% (37 of 83) to DEN's 55%, 14 of 41 from three, and got to the line 18 times to DEN's 32. The glass went 31-46 against them. Powell led with 16 (6 of 14, 3 of 10 from three); K. Porter Jr. added 16, Harden 15. Q2 was theirs, 25-19, the deficit cut from 7 to 1, but the other 3 periods went 101-73 against them. Coffey's -27 in 29 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/16 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 2-3 over their last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 114, shooting 45 percent and 38 from three, 18 free throws a game; Powell at 23 and Harden at 20 a game. That is 3 straight losses. They have lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Mann (3 straight). 2 days' rest. Utah comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 122, shooting 51 percent and 41 from three, 21 free throws a game; Collins at 19 and George at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Hendricks (21 straight), Williams (8 straight), Tshiebwe (6 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the glass, where Utah has been plus-5 a night and the Clippers minus-5 and the defense, the Clippers allowing 114 a night to Utah's 122. Call it the Clippers 116, Utah 110.
12/19 @ DAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Dallas comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 117, shooting 51 percent and 45 from three, 30 free throws a game; Dončić at 30 and Irving at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Kleber (3 straight), Hardy (3 straight). 3 days' rest. The Clippers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 111, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 19 free throws a game; Powell at 23 and Harden at 21 a game. They have lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Jones Jr. (2 straight), Mann (4 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Dallas wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Dallas has been plus-9 a night and the Clippers minus-5 and the line, where Dallas takes 30 free throws a game to the Clippers' 19. Call it Dallas 117, the Clippers 112.
12/21 @ DAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Dallas comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 118, shooting 50 percent and 42 from three, 27 free throws a game; Dončić at 28 and Irving at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Hardy (4 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 109, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 19 free throws a game; Powell at 23 and Harden at 21 a game. They have lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Mann (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: Dallas wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Dallas has been plus-5 a night and the Clippers minus-5 and the line, where Dallas takes 27 free throws a game to the Clippers' 19. Call it Dallas 115, the Clippers 111, the Clippers keeping it close.
12/23 @ MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Memphis comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 131 a night and allowing 110, shooting 50 percent and 45 from three, 22 free throws a game; Jackson Jr. at 19 and Morant at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Williams Jr. (14 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 110, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 21 free throws a game; Harden at 25 and Powell at 24 a game. They have lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Mann (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: Memphis wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Memphis has been plus-6 a night and the Clippers minus-4 and the arc, Memphis at 45 percent from three to the Clippers' 38. Call it Memphis 119, the Clippers 110.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
LACAC A. Coffey
BH B. Hyland
IZ I. Zubac
JH J. Harden
JM J. Miller
KD K. Dunn
KJ K. Jones
KP K. Porter Jr.
MB M. Bamba
NB N. Batum
NP N. Powell
DENAG A. Gordon
CB C. Braun
DJ D. Jordan
HT H. Tyson
JM J. Murray
JP J. Pickett
JS J. Strawther
MP M. Porter Jr.
NJ N. Jokić
PW P. Watson
RW R. Westbrook
ZN Z. Nnaji
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
Nuggets rout Clippers 120-98 despite quiet night from Jokic
DENVER -- — Jamal Murray scored a game-high 20 points and the Denver Nuggets beat the Los Angeles Clippers 120-98 on Friday night despite a quiet game from Nikola Jokic .
Jokic, who scored 56 and 48 points in the last two games, had a season-low two assists and tied season lows with 16 points and seven rebounds.
James Harden had 15 points and nine turnovers for Los Angeles, which has dropped two straight.
The Clippers scored 18 straight points in the second quarter to turn a 12-point deficit into a five-point lead. Denver missed eight shots and had 10 turnovers in nearly six minutes when Los Angeles went on its run.
The Nuggets answered that with a 23-5 run in the third quarter to take control of the game. Michael Porter Jr . scored 10 of his 17 points in the third quarter.
Denver held an opponent below 100 points for the first time since April 9.
Takeaways Clippers: In the first two games against Denver this season, Norman Powell averaged 32.6 points and hit 63.2% of his 3-point attempts. He was held to 16 points and 3 of 10 from deep.
Nuggets: Coach Michael Malone has been trying to find a way to take the pressure off Jokic this season and found an opportunity Friday night. Jokic played less than 30 minutes and didn’t get off the bench in the fourth quarter.
Key moment The Clippers led 58-55 early in the second half when Murray came up with two steals that sparked Denver’s momentum-turning run.
Key stat Coming into the night, Denver was 0-5 when playing after two or more days of rest and 4-0 on the second game of a back-to-back.
Up next Both teams play Monday night, with the Clippers hosting the Jazz and the Nuggets on the road at the Kings.