By Farbod Esnaashari | 11 Hours Ago
LOS ANGELES — In a dominant Game 3 performance that left fans stunned and the Denver Nuggets reeling, the Los Angeles Clippers stormed to a 117–83 victory, taking a 2–1 lead in the first-round playoff series. Despite a triple-double effort from two-time MVP Nikola Jokic, the Nuggets were completely overwhelmed by a locked-in Clippers squad.
Jokic delivered an impressive stat line with 23 points, 13 rebounds, and 13 assists, marking his 20th career postseason triple-double. But even his brilliance couldn’t offset the collapse around him — the rest of the Nuggets struggled to find rhythm, especially with key absences from the lineup.
The game’s biggest shock came at halftime when Nuggets star guard Russell Westbrook was ruled out with left foot inflammation. His departure further crippled Denver’s rotation, already weakened by the absence of forward Aaron Gordon due to a calf strain.
Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers with a statement performance, scoring 21 points along with 11 rebounds and six assists. James Harden was electric in the first half, pouring in 20 points, dishing out nine assists, and grabbing six boards. Norman Powell and Ivica Zubac added 20 and 19 points respectively, helping the Clippers seize total control.
Playing in the newly christened Intuit Dome, the Clippers fed off the energy of a roaring home crowd. Their stifling defense and precision offense dismantled a Nuggets team that looked lost without its full arsenal.
With momentum on their side, the Clippers now look to close the door in Game 4, while the injury-plagued Nuggets must regroup quickly or risk a shocking early exit.
Game 4 tips off Saturday night in Los Angeles.