Clippers Edge Nuggets 115-114
The LA Clippers defeated the Denver Nuggets 115-114 in a thriller on February 20, with Jamal Murray missing a crucial game-tying free throw. Bennedict Mathurin scored 38 points in the high-scoring affair. The loss continues Denver's inconsistent play as they battle for Western Conference positioning.
- Nikola Jokic, despite the loss, recorded a double-double with 22 points and 17 rebounds for the Nuggets. - The game was Bennedict Mathurin's home debut with the Clippers, and his 38 points were a significant increase from his recent scoring. - With this loss, the Denver Nuggets held the 4th seed in the Western Conference standings with a record of 35 wins and 21 losses. - The victory brought the LA Clippers to a 27-28 record, placing them at the 9th position in the Western Conference. - This was a close contest throughout, with the Clippers winning the first and third quarters, and the Nuggets taking the second and both teams scoring 37 in the fourth. - The night after this narrow loss, the Nuggets bounced back with a dominant 157-103 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers, the highest-scoring road game in franchise history. - Key contributors for the Clippers alongside Mathurin included Kawhi Leonard with 23 points and Derrick Jones with 22 points. - Jamal Murray, who missed the crucial free throw, finished the game with 20 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists.
