Game ID: 22500695
LA Clippers @ Denver Nuggets
Friday, January 30, 2026 at 9:00 PM ET
Ball Arena, Denver, CO
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
DEN 35 24 33 30 122LAC 27 23 30 29 109
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 1/22 · 1 day's restOUT Jokić missed 12 since 12/31, out tonight
OUT Braun missed 6 since 1/11, out tonight
OUT Johnson missed 15 since 12/25, out tonight
OUT Valančiūnas missed 11 since 1/02, returns tonight: 22 min (168% of 13)
BACK Murray back 1/13 after 2, 35 min since (99% of 36)
BACK Strawther back 1/17 after 2, 13 min since (86% of 15)
NEW Jones 22 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Pickett 16 to 28 min over the last 5
NEW Nnaji 12 to 19 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 1/23 · back-to-backOUT Jokić missed 13 since 12/31, out tonight
OUT Braun missed 7 since 1/11, out tonight
OUT Johnson missed 16 since 12/25, out tonight
OUT Strawther missed 2 since 1/20, returns tonight: 27 min (179% of 15)
BACK Valančiūnas back 1/22 after 11, 22 min since (168% of 13)
NEW Jones 22 to 31 min over the last 5
NEW Pickett 16 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Nnaji 12 to 17 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 1/27 · 3 days' restOUT Jokić missed 14 since 12/31, out tonight
OUT Braun missed 8 since 1/11, out tonight
OUT Johnson missed 17 since 12/25, out tonight
BACK Strawther back 1/17 after 2, 17 min since (117% of 15)
BACK Valančiūnas back 1/22 after 11, 22 min since (168% of 13)
NEW Watson 30 to 35 min over the last 4
NEW Jones 22 to 33 min over the last 5
NEW Pickett 16 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Nnaji 12 to 21 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 1/29 · 1 day's restOUT Jokić missed 15 since 12/31, out tonight
OUT Braun missed 9 since 1/11, out tonight
OUT Johnson missed 18 since 12/25, out tonight
BACK Strawther back 1/23 after 2, 19 min since (131% of 15)
BACK Valančiūnas back 1/22 after 11, 26 min since (203% of 13)
NEW Watson 30 to 36 min over the last 4
NEW Jones 22 to 33 min over the last 5
NEW Pickett 16 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Nnaji 12 to 21 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 1/30 · back-to-backOUT Jokić missed 16 since 12/31, returns tonight: 24 min (70% of 35)
OUT Braun missed 10 since 1/11, out tonight
OUT Johnson missed 19 since 12/25, out tonight
OUT Gordon missed 2 since 1/27, out tonight
BACK Strawther back 1/23 after 2, 20 min since (136% of 15)
BACK Valančiūnas back 1/22 after 11, 26 min since (198% of 13)
NEW Watson 30 to 37 min over the last 4
NEW Jones 22 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Pickett 16 to 25 min over the last 5
NEW Nnaji 12 to 21 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 2/01 · 1 day's restOUT Braun missed 11 since 1/11, out tonight
OUT Johnson missed 20 since 12/25, out tonight
OUT Gordon missed 3 since 1/27, out tonight
BACK Jokić back 1/30 after 16, 24 min since (70% of 35)
BACK Strawther back 1/23 after 2, 19 min since (130% of 15)
BACK Valančiūnas back 1/22 after 11, 25 min since (190% of 13)
NEW Watson 30 to 37 min over the last 4
NEW Jones 22 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Pickett 16 to 22 min over the last 5
NEW Nnaji 12 to 18 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 2/03 · 1 day's restOUT Braun missed 12 since 1/11, returns tonight: 26 min (81% of 32)
OUT Johnson missed 21 since 12/25, out tonight
OUT Gordon missed 4 since 1/27, out tonight
BACK Jokić back 1/30 after 16, 27 min since (77% of 35)
BACK Strawther back 1/23 after 2, 20 min since (134% of 15)
NEW Watson 30 to 36 min over the last 4
NEW Jones 22 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Valančiūnas 13 to 23 min over the last 4
DEN availability going into 2/04 · back-to-backOUT Johnson missed 22 since 12/25, out tonight
OUT Gordon missed 5 since 1/27, out tonight
BACK Jokić back 1/30 after 16, 29 min since (82% of 35)
BACK Braun back 2/03 after 12, 26 min since (81% of 32)
NEW Watson 30 to 36 min over the last 5
NEW Jones 22 to 28 min over the last 4
NEW Valančiūnas 13 to 22 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 2/07 · 2 days' restOUT Johnson missed 23 since 12/25, returns tonight: 27 min (89% of 31)
OUT Gordon missed 6 since 1/27, out tonight
BACK Jokić back 1/30 after 16, 33 min since (93% of 35)
BACK Braun back 2/03 after 12, 35 min since (109% of 32)
NEW Watson 30 to 36 min over the last 5
NEW Strawther 15 to 20 min over the last 5
NEW Valančiūnas 13 to 19 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 1/20 · back-to-backOUT Leonard missed 2 since 1/16, out tonight
OUT Jones Jr. missed 8 since 1/05, out tonight
OUT Bogdanović missed 12 since 12/28, out tonight
BACK Collins back 1/19 after 2, 26 min since (96% of 27)
NEW Miller 22 to 33 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 1/22 · 1 day's restOUT Leonard missed 3 since 1/16, returns tonight: 26 min (81% of 32)
OUT Jones Jr. missed 9 since 1/05, out tonight
OUT Bogdanović missed 13 since 12/28, out tonight
BACK Collins back 1/19 after 2, 25 min since (92% of 27)
NEW Miller 22 to 31 min over the last 5
NEW Sanders 20 to 26 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 1/25 · 2 days' restOUT Jones Jr. missed 10 since 1/05, out tonight
OUT Bogdanović missed 14 since 12/28, out tonight
BACK Leonard back 1/22 after 3, 26 min since (81% of 32)
BACK Collins back 1/19 after 2, 28 min since (102% of 27)
NEW Miller 22 to 31 min over the last 5
NEW Sanders 20 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Niederhäuser 10 to 16 min over the last 3
LAC availability going into 1/27 · 1 day's restOUT Jones Jr. missed 11 since 1/05, out tonight
OUT Bogdanović missed 15 since 12/28, out tonight
BACK Leonard back 1/22 after 3, 26 min since (80% of 32)
BACK Collins back 1/19 after 2, 27 min since (101% of 27)
NEW Miller 22 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Sanders 20 to 28 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 1/30 · 2 days' restOUT Jones Jr. missed 12 since 1/05, out tonight
OUT Bogdanović missed 16 since 12/28, out tonight
BACK Leonard back 1/22 after 3, 26 min since (82% of 32)
BACK Collins back 1/19 after 2, 26 min since (98% of 27)
LAC availability going into 2/01 · 1 day's restOUT Jones Jr. missed 13 since 1/05, out tonight
OUT Bogdanović missed 17 since 12/28, out tonight
BACK Leonard back 1/22 after 3, 27 min since (86% of 32)
LAC availability going into 2/02 · back-to-backOUT Jones Jr. missed 14 since 1/05, out tonight
OUT Bogdanović missed 18 since 12/28, out tonight
BACK Leonard back 1/22 after 3, 28 min since (87% of 32)
NEW Sanders 20 to 26 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 2/04 · 1 day's restOUT Jones Jr. missed 15 since 1/05, returns tonight: 21 min (79% of 27)
OUT Bogdanović missed 19 since 12/28, returns tonight: 12 min (60% of 20)
NEW Sanders 20 to 28 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 2/06 · 1 day's restBACK Jones Jr. back 2/04 after 15, 21 min since (79% of 27)
BACK Bogdanović back 2/04 after 19, 12 min since (60% of 20)
NEW Sanders 20 to 26 min over the last 5
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 106 a night and allowing 105, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Murray at 26 and Watson at 21 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Jokić (16 straight), Braun (10 straight), Johnson (19 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 108, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 25 free throws a game; Leonard at 24 and Harden at 23 a game. That is 3 straight wins. They have won the glass by 5 a night. Without Jones Jr. (12 straight), Bogdanović (16 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, the Clippers giving it away 16 times a game to Denver's 9 and the glass, where the Clippers have been plus-5 a night and Denver minus-4. Call it Denver 112, the Clippers 111, the Clippers keeping it close.
1/22 @ WAS 107-97 — DEN notes
DEN won 107-97. DEN shot 45% (37 of 83) to WAS's 38%, 9 of 26 from three. Watson led with 35 (10 of 16, 6 of 8 from three, 9 of 10 at the line); Murray added 24, Gordon 16. The hinge was Q1, 27-23: from level to 4 ahead. Gordon was the night's best plus/minus at +23.
1/23 @ MIL 102-100 — DEN notes
DEN won 102-100. DEN shot 40% (35 of 87) to MIL's 40%, 12 of 41 from three. Strawther led with 20 (6 of 13, 1 of 6 from three, 7 of 8 at the line); Hardaway Jr. added 17, Brown 15. The hinge was Q3, 30-21: a lead of 6 became 15, and the lead reached 23. Strawther was the night's best plus/minus at +12.
1/27 vs DET 107-109 — DEN notes
DEN lost 107-109. DEN shot 48% (40 of 84) to DET's 47%, 10 of 29 from three. DEN turned it over 15 times to DET's 6, and DET turned those into 10 steals. Murray led with 24 (7 of 18, 0 of 6 from three, 10 of 15 at the line); Valančiūnas added 16, Brown 16. Q4 was theirs, 35-27, the deficit cut from 10 to 2, but the other 3 periods went 82-72 against them. Watson's -12 in 37 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/29 vs BKN 107-103 — DEN notes
DEN won 107-103. DEN shot 48% (38 of 80) to BKN's 44%, 13 of 26 from three, and went to the line 25 times to BKN's 18 — 18 points from the stripe to their 15. Murray led with 27 (9 of 16, 2 of 3 from three, 7 of 7 at the line); Hardaway Jr. added 25, Watson 19. The hinge was Q2, 34-23: a lead of 4 became 15, and the lead reached 19. Hardaway Jr. was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
1/30 vs LAC 122-109 — DEN notes
DEN won 122-109. DEN shot 55% (40 of 73) to LAC's 47%, 16 of 28 from three, and went to the line 32 times to LAC's 21 — 26 points from the stripe to their 15. Jokić led with 31 (8 of 11, 2 of 3 from three, 13 of 17 at the line); Hardaway Jr. added 22, Watson 21. The hinge was Q1, 35-27: from level to 8 ahead, and the lead reached 18. Murray was the night's best plus/minus at +25.
2/01 vs OKC — 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 109 a night and allowing 104, shooting 47 percent and 40 from three, 26 free throws a game; Murray at 24 and Watson at 22 a game. Without Braun (11 straight), Johnson (20 straight), Gordon (3 straight). One day's rest. OKC comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 108, shooting 47 percent and 32 from three, 24 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 34 and Holmgren at 16 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Jal. Williams (6 straight), Mitchell (4 straight), Caruso (5 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-2 a night and OKC minus-6 and the arc, Denver at 40 percent from three to OKC's 32. Call it Denver 112, OKC 111, OKC keeping it close.
2/03 @ DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Detroit comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 108, shooting 50 percent and 34 from three, 26 free throws a game; Cunningham at 25 and Duren at 19 a game. Without LeVert (7 straight). One day's rest. Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 108, shooting 48 percent and 42 from three, 25 free throws a game; Murray at 21 and Watson at 20 a game. Without Braun (12 straight), Johnson (21 straight), Gordon (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: Detroit wins, and the game turns on the arc, Denver at 42 percent from three to Detroit's 34. Call it Detroit 117, Denver 110.
2/04 @ NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New York comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 95, shooting 49 percent and 42 from three, 18 free throws a game; Anunoby at 22 and Brunson at 20 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without McBride (4 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Denver comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 113, shooting 49 percent and 44 from three, 29 free throws a game; Jokić at 24 and Murray at 23 a game. Without Johnson (22 straight), Gordon (5 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: New York wins, and the game turns on the defense, New York allowing 95 a night to Denver's 113 and the line, where Denver takes 29 free throws a game to New York's 18. Call it New York 117, Denver 109.
2/07 @ CHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Chicago comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 124, shooting 43 percent and 36 from three, 22 free throws a game; Dosunmu at 20 and White at 17 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Giddey (5 straight), Jones (8 straight), Collins (21 straight). One day's rest. Denver comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 118, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 30 free throws a game; Murray at 26 and Jokić at 25 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Johnson (23 straight), Gordon (6 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Denver wins, on the road, and the game turns on the line, where Denver takes 30 free throws a game to Chicago's 22 and the turnovers, Chicago giving it away 16 times a game to Denver's 12. Call it Denver 119, Chicago 116, Chicago keeping it close.
1/20 @ CHI 110-138 — LAC notes
LAC lost 110-138. LAC shot 47% (43 of 92) to CHI's 57%, 10 of 30 from three. Harden led with 24 (9 of 25, 3 of 9 from three); Collins added 23, Miller 12. Q1 was theirs, 30-25, but the other 3 periods went 113-80 against them. Miller's -33 in 22 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/22 vs LAL 112-104 — LAC notes
LAC won 112-104. LAC shot 48% (40 of 84) to LAL's 45%, 12 of 31 from three. LAC turned it over 18 times to LAL's 10, and LAL turned those into 14 steals. The glass went 49-34 for them. Leonard led with 24 (9 of 19, 3 of 7 from three); Harden added 18, Zubac 18. The hinge was Q2, 28-18: a lead of 7 became 17, and the lead reached 26. Collins was the night's best plus/minus at +18.
1/25 vs BKN 126-89 — LAC notes
LAC won 126-89. LAC shot 56% (44 of 78) to BKN's 34%, 12 of 25 from three. The glass went 51-36 for them. Leonard led with 28 (9 of 17, 2 of 7 from three, 8 of 9 at the line); Harden added 19, Collins 18. The hinge was Q1, 38-14: from level to 24 ahead, and the lead reached 40. Batum was the night's best plus/minus at +32.
1/27 @ UTA 115-103 — LAC notes
LAC won 115-103. LAC shot 47% (41 of 88) to UTA's 45%, 18 of 46 from three. Leonard led with 21 (9 of 18, 3 of 7 from three); Harden added 16, Dunn 14. The hinge was Q3, 36-20: LAC came in trailing by 1 and left it ahead by 15, and the lead reached 21. LAC trailed 53-54 at the half and won the second half 62-49. Leonard was the night's best plus/minus at +24.
1/30 @ DEN 109-122 — LAC notes
LAC lost 109-122. LAC took 13 more shots (86 to 73), fed by 11 offensive rebounds, but shot 47% to DEN's 55%, 14 of 40 from three, and got to the line 21 times to DEN's 32. Harden led with 25 (8 of 17, 4 of 10 from three); Leonard added 21, Collins 18. Q2 was theirs, 23-24, but the other 3 periods went 98-86 against them. Harden's -17 in 34 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/01 @ 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 106, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; Brooks at 26 and Allen at 18 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Booker (4 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 111, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; Leonard at 24 and Harden at 20 a game. Without Jones Jr. (13 straight), Bogdanović (17 straight). One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the glass, where the Clippers have been plus-4 a night and Phoenix minus-0. Call it Phoenix 113, the Clippers 110, the Clippers keeping it close.
2/02 vs PHI — 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 116 a night and allowing 102, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 25 free throws a game; Leonard at 24 and Harden at 20 a game. They have won the glass by 10 a night. Without Jones Jr. (14 straight), Bogdanović (18 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Philadelphia comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 118, shooting 49 percent and 40 from three, 23 free throws a game; Embiid at 36 and Maxey at 22 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. One day's rest.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the glass, where the Clippers have been plus-10 a night and Philadelphia minus-9 and the defense, the Clippers allowing 102 a night to Philadelphia's 118. Call it the Clippers 116, Philadelphia 111.
2/04 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 3-2 over their last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 107, shooting 52 percent and 39 from three, 25 free throws a game; Leonard at 25 and Harden at 20 a game. They have won the glass by 6 a night. Without Jones Jr. (15 straight), Bogdanović (19 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 108, shooting 52 percent and 40 from three, 18 free throws a game; Mitchell at 27 and Allen at 17 a game. Without Mobley (3 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the line, where the Clippers take 25 free throws a game to Cleveland's 18 and the glass, where the Clippers have been plus-6 a night and Cleveland plus-1. Call it the Clippers 115, Cleveland 114, Cleveland keeping it close.
2/06 @ SAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Sacramento comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 115, shooting 44 percent and 31 from three, 23 free throws a game; DeRozan at 23 and LaVine at 20 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Murray (16 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 114, shooting 50 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; Leonard at 24 and Collins at 16 a game. One day's rest.
So: The Clippers win, on the road, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it the Clippers 113, Sacramento 112, Sacramento keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
DENBB B. Brown
DH D. Holmes II
HT H. Tyson
JM J. Murray
JP J. Pickett
JS J. Strawther
JV J. Valančiūnas
JO Jokic
NJ N. Jokić
PW P. Watson
SJ S. Jones
TH T. Hardaway Jr.
VA Valanciunas
ZN Z. Nnaji
LACBL B. Lopez
CC C. Christie
IZ I. Zubac
JC J. Collins
JH J. Harden
JM J. Miller
KB K. Brown
KD K. Dunn
KL K. Leonard
KS K. Sanders
NB N. Batum
YN Y. Niederhäuser
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
Nikola Jokic returns from knee injury to lead Nuggets past Clippers, 122-109
DENVER -- — Nikola Jokic had 31 points and 12 rebounds in his first game in a month, Tim Hardaway Jr . added 22 points and the Denver Nuggets knocked off the Los Angeles Clippers 122-109 on Friday night.
Jokic, the three-time NBA MVP, missed 16 games after injuring his left knee in the first half of a Dec. 29 loss at Miami. The Nuggets went 10-6 during that stretch, which also included extended absences from starters Cameron Johnson and Christian Braun .
Jokic’s 29th double-double of the season came despite being on a minutes restriction imposed by coach David Adelman. The 30-year-old Serbian was limited to 25 minutes, his second-fewest in a game this season.
James Harden had 25 points and nine assists for Los Angeles. The Clippers had won 16 of their previous 19, the best win percentage in that NBA during that period.
Jokic scored 11 points over a stretch of 3:47 in the fourth quarter that extended Denver’s lead from five to 16. The Nuggets improved to 7-3 this season in the second game of a back-to-back.
Jamal Murray had 22 points, and Peyton Watson added 21 for Denver. Murray, who made four of his five 3-pointers and had a team-high nine assists, scored at least 20 points in a game for the 35th time this season, matching a career high.
Up next Nuggets: Host Oklahoma City on Sunday night.