Nuggets vs. Clippers: 5 Key Takeaways from Denver's 115-114 Loss
The All-Star break may have been too short for the Nuggets.
Here are five key insights from Denver's thrilling 115-114 loss to the Clippers on Thursday night at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles:
Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray struggled to find their usual rhythm. Despite leading the Nuggets with 22 and 20 points respectively, Jokic and Murray had an off night. Jokic committed six turnovers, while Murray's shooting percentage dropped to 33% from the field and he missed a crucial free throw that could have sent the game into overtime. The Nuggets needed more from their star duo to secure a win.
Other Nuggets stepped up to fill the void. Bruce Brown, Cam Johnson, and Julian Strawther combined for 47 points, with Brown leading the way with 19 points, six assists, and five rebounds on just nine shots. Strawther, in particular, had a hot streak, making 6 of 10 from 3-point range. The support from these three players should have been enough to secure a win for the Nuggets.
See AlsoSpurs' 6-Game Win Streak on the Line vs. Kings in Austin! | NBA Highlights & AnalysisJaxson Hayes' Dunk Disaster: NBA All-Star Weekend's Most Embarrassing Moment?VJ Edgecombe's Clutch Performance: Rising Stars MVP Leads Team Vince to VictoryJaylen Brown vs. Beverly Hills: The Apology and Ongoing DisputeThe Clippers made a strategic trade to weaken the Nuggets' defense. The Clippers traded Ivica Zubac, a second-team All-Defense selection last season, to Indiana earlier this month. This move left the Nuggets without a strong defender to counter Jokic's physicality. While it didn't matter in this game, it could be a significant factor if the two teams meet in the playoffs for a second consecutive season.
Jokic's MVP case received a boost from an unexpected source. Oklahoma City announced that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the narrow favorite to win a second consecutive MVP, will be reevaluated in a week while he deals with an abdominal strain. This means that Jokic has even less margin for error when it comes to missing games. If the two frontrunners play roughly the same number of games at the end of the season, there's going to be another heated MVP debate.
The Nuggets' long-term strategy may have influenced their starting lineup. After converting Spencer Jones' two-way contract to a standard deal for the rest of the season, the Nuggets can only start him in six more games before his qualifying offer meets the starter criteria, which would bump up his salary. While it might have made sense to start Jones in this game, the Nuggets appear to be playing the long game, and it's not about who starts the game. Instead, it's about how many games Jones can close.
CLIPPERS 115, NUGGETS 114: WHAT HAPPENED
The Nuggets trailed by one point after the first quarter but led 52-45 at halftime. The Clippers regained a one-point lead to start the fourth and held on thanks to a missed free throw by Jamal Murray in the final seconds.
WHAT WENT RIGHT
The Nuggets held the Clippers to 25 and 20 points, respectively, in the first two quarters.
WHAT WENT WRONG
The Clippers scored 33 points in the third quarter and 37 more in the fourth.
HIGHLIGHT OF THE NIGHT
Jamal Murray drove down the lane and threw down a one-handed dunk over Brook Lopez in the final 20 seconds to make it a two-point game.
