Jamal Murray led the Denver Nuggets with a game-high 20 points as they cruised to a 120-98 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night. Despite a relatively quiet performance from reigning MVP Nikola Jokic, who finished with just 16 points, seven rebounds, and two assists, the Nuggets maintained control thanks to their balanced attack.Â
Jokic, who had been on an offensive tear with 56 and 48 points in his previous two games, did not play in the fourth quarter, and his limited minutes allowed the Nuggets to avoid overworking him.
The Clippers briefly made a strong push in the second quarter, using an 18-0 run to flip a 12-point deficit into a five-point lead. Denver struggled during that stretch, missing eight consecutive shots and committing 10 turnovers. However, the Nuggets regained their composure in the second half, with Michael Porter Jr. playing a pivotal role. Porter scored 10 of his 17 points in a dominant third quarter, where the Nuggets outscored the Clippers 23-5 to reclaim control of the game.
One of the key moments of the night came early in the third when Murray sparked Denver’s momentum shift with back-to-back steals. This defensive spark led to a series of fast breaks and helped fuel the Nuggets’ surge. Los Angeles, on the other hand, struggled with ball security throughout the game, particularly James Harden, who finished with 15 points but also committed nine turnovers.
Norman Powell, who had been explosive for the Clippers in their previous matchups against Denver, was held to just 16 points on 3-of-10 shooting from beyond the arc. The Nuggets’ defense was sharp, limiting Powell’s impact and forcing the Clippers into difficult shots. Denver’s victory marked their first time holding an opponent under 100 points since April 9.
Coach Michael Malone’s strategy of managing Jokic’s workload paid off, allowing his star center to rest while his teammates stepped up. Despite a shaky start and a brief lull in the second quarter, the Nuggets finished strong, improving their record when playing after multiple days of rest, a stat they had previously struggled with.
The Clippers, who have now lost two straight, continued to falter without a consistent offensive flow. Harden’s turnover woes and Powell’s inability to replicate his previous success were significant factors in their defeat. For Denver, the win was a statement of resilience and depth, and let’s grade their players.Â
Jamal Murray: B
Stats: 20 PTS, 5 REB, 3 AST, 4 STL, 1 BLK, 6 TO, 2 PF, 8-16 FG, 2-5 3PT, 2-2 FT, +18 +/-, 32 MIN
Jamal Murray played a key role in the Nuggets’ victory, leading the team with 20 points, five rebounds, and three assists. He contributed defensively with four steals and a block, helping fuel Denver’s momentum in the third quarter with a couple of key steals. However, his six turnovers were a downside, and his scoring efficiency was mixed, shooting 8-16 from the field and 2-5 from beyond the arc. Murray’s +18 plus/minus reflects his overall positive impact on the game.
Michael Porter Jr.: B
Stats: 17 PTS, 5 REB, 4 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 3 PF, 5-11 FG, 2-7 3PT, 5-6 FT, +15 +/-, 29 MIN
Michael Porter Jr. had a strong outing, contributing 17 points, five rebounds, and four assists. His 10-point performance in the third quarter was pivotal in swinging the game back in Denver’s favor, and he shot 5-11 from the field. However, he struggled with his three-point shooting, finishing 2-7 from deep. Still, his overall contributions were solid, and his +15 plus/minus highlighted his efficiency in the game.
Aaron Gordon: B
Stats: 14 PTS, 6 REB, 2 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 2 PF, 4-7 FG, 1-2 3PT, 5-5 FT, +10 +/-, 23 MIN
Aaron Gordon continued to be a reliable contributor with 14 points, six rebounds, and two assists. He shot efficiently from the field (4-7) and was perfect from the free-throw line (5-5). Gordon’s defense and versatility were key in the Nuggets’ balanced attack. Though his overall impact wasn’t as flashy as others, his efficiency and steadiness in just 23 minutes of play were valuable.
Nikola Jokic: B-
Stats: 16 PTS, 7 REB, 2 AST, 2 STL, 0 BLK, 5 TO, 2 PF, 6-9 FG, 2-2 3PT, 2-4 FT, +14 +/-, 30 MIN
Nikola Jokic had a quiet performance by his standards, scoring 16 points, grabbing seven rebounds, and dishing out two assists. While his scoring wasn’t as dominant as usual, he was still efficient, shooting 6-9 from the field and 2-2 from three-point range. Jokic’s limited minutes (he didn’t play in the fourth quarter) were part of the strategy to rest him, and despite not being the focal point, he still posted a solid +14 plus/minus.
Peyton Watson: B-
Stats: 14 PTS, 5 REB, 0 AST, 2 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 5-6 FG, 1-2 3PT, 3-4 FT, +9 +/-, 26 MIN
Peyton Watson delivered a strong performance off the bench with 14 points and five rebounds. He was efficient shooting 5-6 from the field and also contributed defensively with two steals. Watson’s ability to score and stay mistake-free with zero turnovers helped the Nuggets maintain their lead, and his +9 plus/minus showed his positive impact in his 26 minutes on the court.
Julian Strawther: B-
Stats: 12 PTS, 4 REB, 2 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 1 PF, 3-6 FG, 0-2 3PT, 6-7 FT, +7 +/-, 26 MIN
Julian Strawther added 12 points and four rebounds, contributing efficiently with 6-7 from the free-throw line. However, his shooting from beyond the arc (0-2) was lackluster, and he struggled to get going from the field (3-6). His all-around game helped, though, and his +7 plus/minus reflected his solid effort in his 26 minutes of play.
DeAndre Jordan: B-
Stats:Â 4 PTS, 9 REB, 2 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 0 TO, 1 PF, 2-2 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, +8 +/-, 14 MIN
DeAndre Jordan played an important supporting role, especially on the boards, grabbing nine rebounds to go along with four points, two assists, and a steal. He was perfect from the field (2-2) and added a block to his defensive effort. Jordan’s 14 minutes were productive, as his size and presence helped the Nuggets control the glass and maintain a solid lead.
Christian Braun: C+
Stats: 8 PTS, 3 REB, 1 AST, 2 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 2 PF, 4-8 FG, 0-4 3PT, 0-0 FT, +8 +/-, 24 MIN
Christian Braun contributed eight points and three rebounds, but his shooting was inconsistent, especially from three-point range, where he went 0-4. He added two steals to his defensive stats, but his turnovers and inability to find consistency on offense held his grade back. His +8 plus/minus shows he was effective in his 24 minutes, even though his shooting struggles were noticeable.
Russell Westbrook: C+
Stats:Â 5 PTS, 1 REB, 5 AST, 3 STL, 0 BLK, 4 TO, 2 PF, 2-9 FG, 0-3 3PT, 1-2 FT, +21 +/-, 24 MIN
Russell Westbrook had an up-and-down performance, scoring five points and dishing out five assists. However, he struggled with his shooting (2-9 from the field, 0-3 from three) and committed four turnovers, which limited his effectiveness. Despite this, his defense (three steals) and playmaking were helpful in his 24 minutes, reflected by his +21 plus/minus, though his offensive inconsistency remained a problem.
Hunter Tyson: N/A
Stats: 5 PTS, 1 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 1 PF, 1-1 FG, 1-1 3PT, 2-2 FT, 0 +/-, 5 MIN
Hunter Tyson played just five minutes, scoring five points on a perfect 1-1 from the field, including 1-1 from three-point range. Though his impact was minimal due to limited playing time, his efficiency when on the court was noteworthy.
Jalen Pickett: N/A
Stats:Â 3 PTS, 0 REB, 1 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 1-1 FG, 1-1 3PT, 0-0 FT, 0 +/-, 4 MIN
Jalen Pickett contributed three points in four minutes, shooting 1-1 from the field and 1-1 from three-point range. His role in this game was small, but his shooting efficiency was a positive during his brief time on the floor.
Zeke Nnaji: N/A
Stats: 2 PTS, 0 REB, 1 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 0 PF, 1-1 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, 0 +/-, 4 MIN
Zeke Nnaji played only four minutes, scoring two points and adding one assist. Like the other players with limited minutes, his impact was minimal, but his efficient shooting (1-1 from the field) helped contribute to the Nuggets’ depth.
