The Denver Nuggets defeated the L.A. Clippers 120-98 tonight. It was a strong performance from the Nuggets, especially considering how much they struggled in the first half. They were able to regroup at half-time, and then string together some strong plays and runs to turn things around and seal the win for themselves. This win gives the Nuggets a 13-10 record in the Western Conference.
Jamal Murray led the team in scoring with 20 points (8-16 FG), five rebounds, three assists, four steals, and one block. Michael Porter Jr. had 17 points (5-11 FG), five rebounds, four assists, and one steal. Nikola Jokic had a quiet game by his loft standards, scoring just 14 points (6-9 FG), seven rebounds, two assists, and two steals.
As for the Clippers, they were once again led by Norman Powell, who had 16 points 6-14 FG), three rebounds, and four assists. Kevin Porter Jr. also had 16 points (6-12 FG), three rebounds, four assists, and two steals. James Harden had another middling outing, with just 15 points (6-14 FG), five rebounds, six assists, and two steals.
The Nuggets were able to overcome their own mistakes tonight, as the Clippers didn’t really pose much of a challenge on their own merits. But it was not all easy for the Nuggets, as they created many of their own problems. Here are three reasons why the Nuggets were able to defeat the Clippers
Nuggets Find Joy At Free-Throw Line
One of the big keys to victory for the Nuggets tonight was their performance at the free-throw line. The Nuggets made it to the line for 32 free-throw attempts. They made 26 of their tries at the stripe, making 81.3% of their free throws, giving them 26 important points. Considering that the Clippers lost by 22 points tonight, those free throws proved crucial.
By contrast, the Clippers only made it to the stripe for 18 attempts, converting 10 of them on the night. At a mediocre 55.6% conversion rate at the charity stripe, the Clippers cost themselves some significant points tonight.
Another difference, that might show why the Nuggets made it to the free-throw line as much, the Clippers had 22 personal fouls compared to the Nuggets’ 16. Tonight came down to one team being able to convert their foul shots and another team not being able to.
Michael Porter Jr.’s Second-Half Explosion
Michael Porter Jr. was having a bad game in the first half tonight. He scored just five points and had gone 1-6 from the field and 0-4 from the three-point line. It was not a good game for him. However, he didn’t let the bad first half dictate how the rest of the game would go.
He came out guns blazing in the second half, scoring 12 points, going 4-6 from the field and 2-3 from the three-point line. It was a solid redemption act from Porter Jr., whose explosion really helped the Nuggets get a foothold in the game. Porter Jr. continues to prove his value to the team with these kinds of performances on a regular basis.
For the season, Porter Jr. is averaging 18.9 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game, while shooting 51.1% from the field, 38.3% from the three-point line, and 69.0% from the free-throw line. He has been consistently one of the Nuggets’ strongest performers this year, showing just how crucial he is to the team.
Nuggets Dominate Clippers On The Glass
One of the big differences tonight was in rebounding. The Nuggets had 46 rebounds during the game, whereas the Clippers had just 31 rebounds during the game. While both teams had five offensive rebounds, the difference in defensive rebounds is absolutely staggering.
The rebounding stat also shows just how poor the Clippers were while shooting the ball. For the Nuggets to have so many defensive rebounds, the Clippers had to miss several shots. The Clippers went 37-83 from the field, making just 44.6% of their shots from the field. They made just 14-41 of their three-pointers, going 34.1% from beyond the arc.
The Nuggets were stronger from the field, making 42 of 77 field goals, and shooting 54.5% from the field. While they weren’t particularly strong from the three-point line, going 10-29 from the three-point 34.5% from the field. It was by no means a dominant showing from a shooting standpoint for the Nuggets, but they were better than the Clippers on the night.
After this win, the Nuggets will turn their attention to the Sacramento Kings, whom they play at the Golden1 Center on Monday night at 10 PM EST. The Nuggets have struggled to go on a consistent winning run, so they will want to try and build a streak by winning their third game in a row.
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