In a thrilling Sunday night showdown, James Harden erupted for 39 points to lead the Los Angeles Clippers to a 126-122 win over the Denver Nuggets. Harden also recorded 11 assists and nine rebounds, falling just short of a triple-double.
Nikola Jokic, who recorded his eighth triple-double of the season, posted 28 points, 14 rebounds, and 11 assists for Denver, but it wasn’t enough to secure the win.
The Clippers (13-9) overcame a late-game push from the Nuggets (10-8) to secure their second victory over them this season.
Harden was a force from the line, making all 13 of his free throws. He also hit three 3-pointers in the first half, marking his 3,000th career three-pointer. Norman Powell contributed 28 points in his return after missing six games due to injury.
The game started with high intensity, as Los Angeles took an early 11-point lead in the first quarter. However, the Nuggets fought back to tie it at halftime, with Jokić leading the charge for Denver.
In the second half, the Nuggets surged ahead with a 21-11 run to start the third quarter, putting the Clippers down by 10. But Los Angeles responded with a barrage of six 3-pointers — three by Harden and three by Powell — to take a 92-90 lead heading into the fourth.
With the game tight in the final moments, the Clippers extended their lead with a series of clutch plays. Harden hit a key 3-pointer early in the fourth, followed by three consecutive three-pointers from the Clippers to give them a seven-point advantage.
Despite a late push by Denver, where Jokic and Aaron Gordon made key plays, Harden remained steady for Los Angeles. The Nuggets closed the gap to just two points with 19 seconds remaining, but Jokic missed a crucial free throw with 9 seconds left, and the Clippers sealed the win by converting on 8 of their 9 free throws down the stretch.
Harden’s performance was instrumental, and the Clippers shot 47.8% from the field, including 18 of 39 from three-point range. The Nuggets, on the other hand, struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 10 of 24 attempts.
For Denver, Jokic’s triple-double and 18 points from Michael Porter Jr. kept them competitive, but turnovers and missed free throws proved costly.
