Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets were defeated by the Los Angeles Clippers by 102:100 after a thrilling finish.
It was particularly interesting, especially after head coach Mike Malone was ejected late in the game due to dissatisfaction with the officiating. In such a close contest with a two-point deficit, Nikola Jokic once again took responsibility, but his shot didn’t go through the basket, leading to the reigning NBA champions’ loss.
Although the Denver Nuggets had a 17-point lead early in the first quarter, it didn’t take long for the opponent to make up for it. The turnaround came in the middle of the second quarter when the Clippers took the lead. We then witnessed a back-and-forth game until the very end. The defending champions trailed by double digits, came within a shot of victory in the final moments, but it remained just that, as they ultimately congratulated the well-deserved triumph to the Clippers.
Nikola Jokic has surpassed the 14,000-point mark in his career and achieved another triple-double performance. This time, he filled up all statistical columns with 36 points, 17 rebounds, and 10 assists. He appeared to be the only player in good form for the defeated team.
The victors were led by the duo of Paul George and James Harden. George scored 28 points, while Harden contributed 20 points and recorded eight assists.
The Denver Nuggets are now in second place in the Western Conference with a record of 53-24. The Minnesota Timberwolves have a 53-23 record but one fewer game played, making it interesting to see who will clinch the top spot at the end of the regular season. The Los Angeles Clippers are fourth with a record of 48-28.