Nikola Jokic erupted for 55 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead the Denver Nuggets past the injury-depleted Los Angeles Clippers 130-116 on Wednesday at the Intuit Dome.
Jokic scored 25 points in the first quarter and finished 18 of 23 from the field, including 5 of 6 from three-point range and 14 of 16 from the free-throw line.
James Harden led the Clippers with 23 points, making all 10 of his free throws, while Ivica Zubac added 18 and Jordan Miller scored a career-high 22 off the bench. Los Angeles played without Bradley Beal, who is out for the season with a fractured hip, and Kawhi Leonard, sidelined with a sprained ankle and foot.
Despite Jokic’s scoring, the Clippers remained close through halftime, trailing 68-63 after leading by 10 early in the second quarter. Denver pulled away in the third as Jokic put together two personal six-point runs, giving the Nuggets a 106-90 lead entering the fourth.
Denver improved to 9-2, marking their sixth consecutive victory, while the Clippers fell to 3-8, losing their sixth straight game. Jokic’s 55 points tied the season high previously set by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on October 23.
James Harden and Zubac struggled to overcome the Nuggets’ third-quarter surge, and the Clippers were unable to close the gap in the fourth despite scoring 26 points in the final period. Denver rested Jokic for much of the fourth, highlighting their dominance throughout the game.
The Nuggets will visit the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday, while the Clippers open a seven-game road trip at Dallas in an NBA Cup matchup on Friday.
