Clippers Edge Nuggets in NBA thriller
The LA Clippers edged the Denver Nuggets 115-114 on Feb 20 in a thriller that saw Bennedict Mathurin erupt for 38 points (career-high tie) and Kawhi Leonard add 23 points. Nikola Jokic nearly triple-doubled with 22 points, 17 rebounds, and 6 assists, but Jamal Murray missed a game-tying free throw in the final moments.
- This victory was a significant upset for the Clippers, who entered the game with a 26-28 record, placing them 10th in the Western Conference. The Nuggets came in with a much stronger 35-20 record. - The win snapped a trend for the Clippers, who had only won 1 of their last 5 matchups against the Nuggets. Denver had also taken the two previous meetings during the current season. - Jamal Murray's missed free throw was uncharacteristic; he has been shooting 88.7% from the free-throw line this season. - The 38-point performance from Bennedict Mathurin came in just his fifth game as a Clipper after being traded from the Indiana Pacers earlier in the month. He was named the MVP of the NBA Rising Stars Challenge in 2024. - The game was a duel of offensive stars, with Nikola Jokic continuing a season where he is averaging a triple-double over his last 10 games with 28.2 points, 13.3 rebounds, and 10.1 assists. - Kawhi Leonard came into the contest on a hot streak, having averaged 30.8 points and 9.3 rebounds over his last four regular-season games. He also had a memorable 31-point performance in one of the NBA All-Star Game contests just days prior.
