The Clippers, still without Kawhi Leonard, started this match in the same way as they finished against Sacramento the day before yesterday. That is to say very bad! The first quarter of the match was one-sided for the Nuggets, already showing a 12-point gap after a little over four minutes of play.
Nikola Jokic (36 points, 17 rebounds, 10 assists) even concluded a 20-4 with work with his back to the basket on Paul George. The entry of Norman Powell allows Los Angeles to limit the damage and end the first quarter with 11 units (31-20). Fortunately for them, Tyronn Lue's men scored a 6-0 at the start of the quarter to launch themselves definitively into the match. First by Amir Coffey in the corner then by Norman Powell who finishes with another winning shot after a good collective movement.
Coming out of the timeout, the same Powell intercepts a risky pass from Michael Porter Jr. and sends Russell Westbrook for a first alley-oop concluding a 17-0 in progress.
Nikola Jokic has the match point
Without having yet scored a single point until halfway through the second quarter, James Harden (20 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists) equalized, then it was he who allowed the Clippers to take the advantage on a penetration with the foul . At halftime, the Clippers took the lead (53-49). While MPJ persists in his clumsiness behind the arc, Paul George (28 points) gives his team an 11-point lead with a shot at the head of the racket then a “drive”. A little later, it's Westbrook who lets loose on a superb alley-oop found by Harden. Only Jokic keeps Denver alive in a very defensive quarter (75-70).
While Denver trails by eight points with eight minutes remaining, Mike Malone is sent off! Furious not to see Michael Porter Jr get called for a foul on a shot behind the 3-point line, the coach fumes and receives his second technique. The advantage then rises to 11 points for the Clippers. But the Joker does not give up and brings his team back to five units by playing James Harden under the circle. The Nuggets even end up coming back to within one possession of the Clippers.
Ivica Zubac defends the lead at the very end of the match on the Serbian pivot and even causes the foul. He succeeds in his two free throws and brings the advantage to five points. On the next possession, after a screen, Nikola Jokic positioned himself behind the arc to bring his team within two lengths. With 10 seconds left, James Harden misses a 3-point shot but, on the throw-in, the Nuggets struggle to find a free player.
There are only 4.2 seconds left to allow Nikola Jokic to take a very complicated shot from 9 meters, but he is well defended by PJ Tucker. The Clippers won 102-100, and the Nuggets therefore left the Wolves alone in first place in the Western Conference.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– Michael Porter Jr. watered. Despite a good start to the match, Michael Porter Jr. stubbornly took long-range shots. Sometimes open, sometimes contested, the winger missed the target too often last night. With a 2/10 from afar, he wasted precious ammo and didn't help his team.
– The expulsion of Michael Malone. The anger of the “Mile High City” coach created a real shock in the ranks of his team. Following this expulsion, the Nuggets responded with a 13-4 to come back to within two points of the Clippers. A reaction too late to hope to prevail.
– The Nuggets let slip first place in the West. Already second with the tie-breaker, Jokic's teammates give the Wolves a chance to move on with a head start for first place in the West. The two teams must meet once again, next week. The Nuggets also offer the Thunder a chance to join them with the same record, in the event of a victory against the Pacers.
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
