Just ask the Los Angeles Clippers who pulled off one of the most incredible comebacks against the Denver Nuggets. They came back from being down 22 points to pull off a highly unlikely 97-96 win Wednesday night. The Los Angeles game at the Staples Center was a well-played game by both teams. The game went back and forth in the last few minutes before the Clippers snatched the win.
Denver controlled the early stages of the game, holding the lead for nearly 70 minutes. The Nuggets offensive endurance showed up in a big way during the third quarter. Nikola Jokic spearheaded the offensive explosion with 14 points and as a collective team, they hit five 3-pointers. No matter what the squad did, the Nuggets simply were not able to defend their advantage as the contest wore on.
The Clippers could not buy a shot, plain and simple. They concluded the night shooting a woeful 39 for 88 from the field and only 10 of 30 from behind the arc. Luckily for the Heat, they found their rhythm in an explosive fourth quarter, outscoring the Nuggets 34-16. Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, and especially Norman Powell were key pieces to this return, with Powell finishing with 22 points total.
His absence due to left foot inflammation was definitely felt against the Magic, as it left a huge hole in the Clippers’ frontcourt depth. LAC center Ivica Zubac had a strong showing to lead the way. He finished with 19 points, 12 rebounds, six assists and kept Los Angeles in the game as long as possible.
With the game approaching its end, tempers started to flare. James Harden, Norman Powell and Kris Dunn all earned offsetting fouls to cool down a violent scuffle on the court. With just 1:11 remaining, the Clippers took their first lead at 97-96, thanks to an offensive rebound and basket by Bogdan Bogdanovic.
With time running out, the Nuggets would be under considerable pressure. Here’s what Aaron Gordon recalled of the game’s closing stretch. He emphasized the work his team did to keep Jokic from getting that final look.
“We wanted to get the ball to Joker on the last shot. … I’m just trying to clean up everything on the glass, trying to get a tip back, trying to do whatever my team needs for me to win.” – Aaron Gordon
Try as they might, Denver never regained the advantage as the Clippers hung on for a win.
Gordon expressed his disbelief at the game’s intensity, stating simply,
“That was a crazy game, man. Crazy game.” – Aaron Gordon
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