Clippers 11, Nuggets 18: Play-by-play, highlights and reactions

By HoopsHype | January 5, 2023

The Los Angeles Clippers (21-18) play against the Denver Nuggets (13-13) at Ball Arena

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Game Time: 10:00 PM EST on Thursday January 5, 2023

Los Angeles Clippers 59, Denver Nuggets 100 (Q3 00:45)

What’s the buzz on Twitter? Ralph Lawler @OhmeomyIf U heard Kenny Smith’s comments on TNT half-time of Clippers-Nuggets, you may have to admit there is reason for concern about this Clipper season. They Must get healthy enough so that the coach can settle on an 8 or 9 man rotation night after night. Can not just wait till P-O’s – 11:35 PM TJ McBride @TJMcBrideNBAThe Nuggets lead is so high that half of the timeline thinks its 45 and the other half think its 35 and I am just laughing. – 11:32 PM Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNUAs I was saying… the Nuggets are not the Wizards.Denver led by as many as 43, lead 90-55 with 3:21 left in 3rd quarter.Clippers still shooting terrible from 3 (3/27, 11.1%). Luke Kennard 0/5 and hasn’t been close.Time Zone week going extremely poor for Clippers. – 11:31 PM Michael Singer @msingerMichael Malone with some very animated frustration after that Terrance Mann dunk. Put his hands on his head after that Mann layup.The #Nuggets are up 90-53. – 11:29 PM Harrison Wind @HarrisonWindJamal Murray’s the Nuggets’ first sub of the 2nd half. Michael Malone definitely called an audible in the 1st quarter and let him cook. – 11:26 PM TJ McBride @TJMcBrideNBAJokic with 7-5-8 and Denver leads by 41. He is now using this game for data acquisition on crazy shit he has been wanting to try. – 11:23 PM Michael Singer @msingerJamal Murray’s defensive contests have been really strong tonight. Forget about the four 3-pointers and 18 points. Think his defense has been great. – 11:20 PM TJ McBride @TJMcBrideNBANuggets let the Clippers bench, who are starting the second half instead of the starters, go on a 9-7 run and Malone could not handle it and called a rage timeout.The brand is strong. – 11:17 PM TJ McBride @TJMcBrideNBANuggets led the Clippers bench, who are starting the second half for the Clippers, go on a 9-7 run and Malone could not handle it and called a rage timeout.The brand is strong. – 11:16 PM Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNUPaul George is on bench but didn’t warm up at all during halftime. Leonard did, so maybe he’s still available if a miracle happensWe just saw T Mann throw an alley-oop to Luke Kennard (layup! but still!) so who knows.Denver leads cut to 73-41 with 9:40 left in 3Q. – 11:16 PM Joe Vardon @joevardonTrailing by 34 at halftime in Denver, Ty Lue said he’d seen enough. Benched all five starters — including Kawhi and PG — for the start of the second half. The Clippers’ two starts are 4-of-16 shooting and the team was 2-of-21 from 3. – 11:15 PM TJ McBride @TJMcBrideNBAWhen the Nuggets decide to upshift into their high gear, it’s really quite a sight. They are far from consistent in terms of playing at that level, but they clearly have that gear the elite teams in basketball must have. – 11:12 PM TJ McBride @TJMcBrideNBANuggets have 3 players who have more 3 than the Clippers as a team.Bones, KCP and Murray each have 3 triples while the Clippers have just 2. – 11:11 PM TJ McBride @TJMcBrideNBANuggets bench:28 points15-23 FG5-8 3ptFG5 assists against 0 turnoversMistake free, strong defense and lots of 3pt attempts is a good recipe. – 11:08 PM TJ McBride @TJMcBrideNBAHalftime stats for the Nuggets, who lead 66-32 at half:Murray: 13-4-0 on 5-8fgGordon: 13-7-3 on 5-6fgHyland: 12-1-0 on 3-4fgNuggets held Clippers to 11-41 from the field, 2-21 from 3, and only put them on the foul line 8 times. – 11:06 PM Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNUThis could be a 40-point margin if MPJ contributes to the offense at all.Jokic at least has 7 assists to go with his 1/5 FGs. Porter has no points, no assists at halftime with his team up 34. – 11:03 PM Duvalier Johnson @DuvalierJohnsonThe Nuggets lead the Clippers 66-29 at the half.Denver held the Clips to 11/41 from the field and 2-of-21 from beyond the arc.Murray and Gordon have 13 points apiece to lead the way.Hyland has added 12 pointsIf you’re Malone, what’s THREE words you’d tell the team? – 11:02 PM Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNUNuggets outscored Clippers 34-17 in a 2nd quarter that saw Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Michael Porter Jr. score zero points. – 11:00 PM Janis Carr @janiscarrClippers trail 65-29 at the half. Rumor has it that PG and Kawhi are playing tonight. Combined they are 2 for 13. – 10:59 PM Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburnHalftime rotations for the Nuggets as they lead the Clippers 66-32:-Murray began the game making 5 shots, and I think that gave the entire team a lot of confidence honestly-Nuggets 11/20 from 3, Clippers at 2/21-Bones with some great makes-Thought Zeke was FANTASTIC pic.twitter.com/r7xp5JoZOH – 10:59 PM Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNUDenver leads Clippers 66-32 at halftime.Analysis: The defense was awful, and the offense was worse.I was in the building in Washington last January, front end of back-to-back, when Clippers were down 35. KCP was there!The Nuggets are not the Wizards. – 10:59 PM Gordon Gross @GMoneyNuggsThe Minnesota game was a checkmark in the “Makes it hard to commit to the Nuggets as champions” column.The Boston game and this half against the Clippers are a couple of checks in the “Nobody – NOBODY – wants to see Denver in a best of seven” column. – 10:58 PM Harrison Wind @HarrisonWindAaron Gordon with 13 first-half points on 5-6 shooting, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and making it look easy on national TV. The All-Star buzz is going to build. I can hear Reggie Miller right now, “How could the No. 1 seed in the West only have one All-Star?” – 10:57 PM Andrew Greif @AndrewGreifThe largest halftime deficit in the Clippers’ past two seasons (because we all know what the Mavs did to the Clips in 2020-21) is 37, from last March. They dip just under that, trailing 66-32 at half in Denver. – 10:56 PM TJ McBride @TJMcBrideNBANikola Jokic and Michael Porter Jr. are a combined 1-9 for 3 points and the Nuggets lead by 34 at halftime.Clippers-32, Nuggets-66 – 10:56 PM Danny Cunningham @RealDCunninghamNuggets will be taking on the #Cavs tomorrow night on the second night of a back-to-back.They’re currently up by 36 against the Clippers, so I can’t imagine the starters are going to play a whole bunch tonight. Would have to think they’ll be pretty well rested. – 10:54 PM Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBSThe Nuggets are winning by 38 and Jokic has three points, which is the most Jokic stat that has ever existed. – 10:53 PM Damichael Cole @DamichaelCThe Nuggets are up 63-25. In other words, the Grizzlies will be the No. 1 seed in the West for about another 90 minutes 😂 – 10:51 PM Katy Winge @katywingeIt’s 63-25 the Denver Nuggets are beating the Los Angeles Clippers and it’s not even halftime yet – 10:51 PM Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNUDenver leads 63-25.This is Post-Christmas 2020 Mavericks game bad. But Kawhi didn’t play in that one.18-0 Nuggets run on the strength of a 5:31 Clippers field goal drought.And theoretically, there’s not real comeback chance with Clippers in Minnesota tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/ckVfm0TkOU – 10:51 PM TJ McBride @TJMcBrideNBAI think the KCP stagger is my new favorite solution to Denver’s bench issues. He unlocks Bones, Brown and Cancar with his shooting and he has enough individual creations to get a shot when Denver needs him to.It means no Braun, but I think this might be their best rotation. – 10:51 PM TJ McBride @TJMcBrideNBAIt is easy to look at Denver being 11-19 from 3 as the reason for this lead, but really this is their defense. They have held the Clippers to 8-36 from the floor and 1-18 (!!!) from 3. The physicality Denver has on the perimeter has been great and their rotations are crisp. – 10:50 PM Ky Carlin @Ky_CarlinWhat the Nuggets are going right now to the Clippers is nuts. 61 points in the 1st half and there’s still over 3:00 to go until halftime. – 10:49 PM Andrew Greif @AndrewGreifDenver has made 11 three-pointers. The Clippers have made 8 field goals, in total. They were just on the wrong end of a 19-0 run. – 10:48 PM TJ McBride @TJMcBrideNBANuggets were up 13 when Jokic went to the bench and their lead is now up to 30 as he returns.Nuggets up 53-23 with 5:40 before half and Jokic has just 3 points on 3 shots. – 10:45 PM TJ McBride @TJMcBrideNBANnaji has not popped like Bones or Bruce or Vlatko during this stint, but he has been great. He is grabbing rebounds and defending his ass off. – 10:43 PM Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNUThe starters got buried, but the bench is finding another six feet.Denver up 50-23 with 7:14 left in first half. 7-0 run capped by Vlatko Cancar channeling Uncle Jeff. – 10:40 PM Andrew Greif @AndrewGreifVlatko poster dunk ends an 8-0 Denver run and the Clippers trail 50-23.The Clippers are shooting 6-10 inside the paint and **1-17 outside of it** – 10:40 PM TJ McBride @TJMcBrideNBAClippers try to throw the ball off Vlatko to get possession, but he catches the ball and dimes up Brown for 3. Nuggets up by 20. – 10:33 PM TJ McBride @TJMcBrideNBAGotta give Michael Porter Jr. some credit. He did not shoot well in the first quarter (0-4), but had 4 boards and gave good effort on defense. He is finding ways to not hurt the Nuggets despite his lack of scoring. – 10:32 PM Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNUWorst first quarter of the season for Clippers as Denver leads 32-15.Jamal Murray made more FGs (5/6) than entire Clippers team (4/21).Also made more 3s (3/3) than entire Clippers team (1/11).That pretty much sums it up. – 10:32 PM Michael Singer @msinger#Nuggets up 32-15 after the first quarter. Jamal’s got 13, AG’s got 8, and Denver’s bench is working.Clippers shooting … 19% and 1-of-11 from 3. PG and Kawhi a combined 0 for 7 from the field. – 10:30 PM TJ McBride @TJMcBrideNBANuggets more than doubled up the Clippers in the first quarter and lead 32-15.Murray with 13 on 5-6FGJokic with 3-3-5Gordon with 8-3-3Nuggets bench outscoring Clippers bench 8-2 – 10:29 PM Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburnI wish Denver had more built into their bench playbook, but you take a 17-point lead every time and don’t complain about it at all. – 10:28 PM Andrew Greif @AndrewGreifIt’s danger-zone time for the Clippers, trailing 32-13 late in the first quarter. Never a good sign when the opponent has twice as many assists (8) as the Clippers have field goals (4). – 10:27 PM TJ McBride @TJMcBrideNBABones Hyland hits a 3 as soon as Jokic leaves the game and Nnaji follows with a block that led to a Vlatko 3. That will help keep the bench unit rolling. – 10:25 PM Andrew Greif @AndrewGreifTerance Mann and Bruce Brown both on the floor in the final minutes of this first half. Their friendship is pretty cool: First met at an 8th grade camp, then teamed up in AAU, later played against one another for a HS state championship in Massachusetts. – 10:22 PM Katy Winge @katywingeJamal Murray is COOKIN’ to start this game 🔥🔥13 pts 5/6 from the field and 3/3 from 3An EARLY Murray Flurry ❄️ – 10:21 PM Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNUIt’s dammit time already. Denver up 25-13 with 3:16 left, Kawhi/PG are both 0/3 FGs, and Clippers have missed 8 of 9 3s.Jamal Murray has matched Clippers with 13 points and has more made buckets (Murray: 5/6 FGs; LAC: 4/16 FGs) – 10:21 PM TJ McBride @TJMcBrideNBAJamal Murray has 13 points while the Clippers as a team have 13 points.Nuggets up 25-13 with 3:16 left in the first quarter. – 10:20 PM TJ McBride @TJMcBrideNBAMPJ really pressing so far tonight. Everyone in the arena knew he was going to pull up from 3 in transition that last possession. – 10:18 PM TJ McBride @TJMcBrideNBAWith Murray cooking, I wonder if Porter gets pushed to stagger with the bench instead. Would be a helpful switch and would open up some Christian Braun minutes as well. – 10:17 PM Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburnKCP goes to the bench early instead of Jamal Murray.Might have been Jamal, but Malone talked about rhythm with him, and he’s got it now. – 10:16 PM Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNUIt’s a 15-7 lead for Denver to start. T Lue saved a timeout after Nuggets ripped off 6 straight, but has to burn one 3 minutes later.Clippers definitely starting this game at sea level, missing 7 of first 8 shots. – 10:12 PM Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburnDenver’s getting a little lucky on the shooting variance here, but the Clippers are settling for no rhythm jumpers a ton of the time. Good start defensively. – 10:12 PM TJ McBride @TJMcBrideNBADenver’s physicality on the perimeter tonight on defense has been very good. They are containing well and keeping everyone in front of them which is forcing the Clippers to play side to side instead of getting downhill. – 10:11 PM TJ McBride @TJMcBrideNBAImpressive defensive start by the Nuggets. Clippers are 1-8 from the field and have gotten 4 of their 7 points at the foul line.Denver leads 15-7 at the first break. – 10:10 PM Wes Goldberg @wcgoldbergNot enough people are talking about how good Aaron Gordon has been for the Nuggets this season, esp. with Murray and MPJ dealing with injuries. – 10:07 PM Michael Singer @msingerOne game doesn’t determine anything, but Aaron Gordon and Paul George are both vying for the same All-Star real estate. There’s a limited amount of West spots available, and both have legitimate claim. – 10:06 PM Vinny Benedetto @VBenedettoBuckets from Nikola Jokic and Aaron Gordon (x2) have the Nuggets out to a 6-0 lead over the Clippers. You would know this if you’re watching TNT. – 10:05 PM TJ McBride @TJMcBrideNBAThat is four-straight stops for the Nuggets to begin against the Clippers and Jokic is already diming up everyone. Feels like one of the nights Denver shows up to play their best tonight.Denver up 6-0 early. – 10:05 PM Harrison Wind @HarrisonWindKawhi Leonard and Paul George both playing for the Clippers tonight. All their regulars are active except Nicolas Batum. Should be a good test for Denver. – 9:53 PM TJ McBride @TJMcBrideNBANuggets have their regular starters together:Jamal MurrayKentavious Caldwell-PopeMichael Porter Jr.Aaron GordonNikola JokicWith Denver on the first night of a B2B and the Cavs resting tomorrow night, I’d bet Murray rests tomorrow night. – 9:37 PM Vinny Benedetto @VBenedettoNuggets going with their regular starters – Murray, Caldwell-Pope, Porter, Gordon, Jokic – tonight against the Clippers. Michael Malone said pregame that Jamal Murray is still not playing back-to-backs, so he looks doubtful to play tomorrow against the Cavaliers. – 9:34 PM Ohm Youngmisuk @NotoriousOHMLAC-DEN starters:LACKawhi LeonardMarcus MorrisIvica ZubacPaul GeorgeReggie JacksonDENMichael Porter Jr.Aaron GordonNikola JokicJamal MurrayKentavious Caldwell-Pope – 9:33 PM Harrison Wind @HarrisonWindJeff Green, currently out with a fractured left hand, is making progress. He’s shooting around pregame with a protective glove over his hand. Scheduled to be reevaluated in around two weeks. – 9:26 PM Harrison Wind @HarrisonWindJeff Green, currently out with a fractured left hand, is making progress. He’s shooting around pregame with a protective glove over his left hand. Scheduled to be reevaluated in around two weeks. – 9:24 PM Harrison Wind @HarrisonWindAsked Michael Malone how the Nuggets decide which game of the back-to-back Jamal Murray plays: “That’s a conversation I have with out training staff,” Malone said. He says the staff makes a suggestion, then Malone will go to Murray and they’ll make a decision. – 8:39 PM Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNUAsked T Lue if it is set in stone that Kawhi and Wall would play no games on zero days rest this season.T Lue left open possibility that they could. Full reax momentarily. – 8:38 PM Kelsey Russo @kelseyyrussoJust landed in Denver. #Cavs injury report for tomorrow’s game against the Nuggets:Darius Garland (thumb sprain) – questionableDonovan Mitchell (rest) – OUTRicky Rubio, Dean Wade, Dylan Windler also all remain out. – 8:38 PM Andrew Greif @AndrewGreifTy Lue was asked about whether he foresees Kawhi Leonard and John Wall being able to play both ends of a back to back this season, at some point. Lue said he hopes so. – 8:35 PM Harrison Wind @HarrisonWindMichael Malone pregame on Jamal Murray staggering and playing with the bench: “Be assertive, be vocal, that’s your unit. You run it.” – 8:32 PM Michael Singer @msingerAsked Michael Malone how Jamal Murray can help himself. He said he can be more vocal, more assertive. Specifically, he said when he’s staggering with the second unit, he needs to run that lineup. “That’s your unit.” Malone is empowering him to do so. – 8:20 PM TJ McBride @TJMcBrideNBAMalone said the challenge for both him and Jamal Murray as he fights back to his former self is not getting caught up in the moment. It was always going to be a long process and that’s been the toughest challenge. – 8:18 PM Danny Cunningham @RealDCunningham#Cavs will be without Donovan Mitchell (rest) tomorrow night here in Denver. Darius Garland, who has missed the last three games with a thumb injury, is listed as questionable.Cavs will also be without Ricky Rubio, Dean Wade, Dylan Windler, and Isaiah Mobley tomorrow. – 7:44 PM Chris Fedor @ChrisFedor#Cavs Donovan Mitchell (rest) is listed OUT tomorrow night against Denver, along with Ricky Rubio, Dean Wade and Dylan Windler. Darius Garland (thumb) is QUESTIONABLE. – 7:33 PM Mirjam Swanson @MirjamSwansonAlmost on a jury this week. Lawyer quizzes me: “Sports columnist?” “True.” “What do you write about?” “Everything.” “How long?” “August.” “Before that?” “Covered the Clippers.”Another prospective juror: “You cover the Clippers?! They’re so frustrating!” Dude a fan since Blake. – 7:10 PM Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburnSo, it’s assumed that Kawhi Leonard will play tonight against the Nuggets. That’s a big deal. He’s not on the injury report (Paul George is questionable with a hammy).This will be a good test for the Nuggets. A serious opponent. That they should take seriously. Big if true. – 5:34 PM Dan Favale @danfavalefive nba players are shooting >= 55% on drives with a >= 12 ast%:—nikola jokic (69.2 fg%/14.6 ast%)—luka doncic (64.9 fg%/12.4 ast%)—lebron james (59.8 fg%/12.5 ast%)—malik monk (57 fg%/17.1 ast%)—deni avdija (55.6 fg%/13.9 ast%) – 5:09 PM Harrison Wind @HarrisonWindPeyton Watson will be sidelined for a couple of weeks with a left adductor strain, I’m told. He left the Grand Rapids Gold’s Jan. 2 loss after playing 15 minutes and is currently in Denver. Nuggets have been really encouraged by his play in the G League this season. – 4:52 PM Sean Grande @SeanGrandePBPAnd on the topic of Scal, Abby and me, it seemed trivial given what happened in Cincinnati Monday, but a belated but heartfelt thanks not just for these but to all who reached out after our NBA “rain delay” Sunday in Denver.Do this long enough, you’ll see everything. pic.twitter.com/zNq4sFLPSt – 4:31 PM

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