The LA Clippers will once again be short-handed when they host the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night at Intuit Dome. Both Kawhi Leonard and Bradley Beal have been ruled out, adding to the team’s struggles during its ongoing five-game skid.
Leonard is sidelined with a right ankle sprain, while Beal continues to deal with left hip soreness. Rookie center Yanic Konan Niederhauser and two-way forward Jahmyl Telfort are also unavailable as they remain on G League assignments.
The absences leave James Harden as the focal point of the Clippers’ offense. The veteran guard is averaging 23.4 points and 9.3 assists this season, including a 35-point performance in Monday’s 105–102 loss to the Atlanta Hawks. Ivica Zubac has also been consistent in the paint, averaging 14.9 points and 10.6 rebounds through ten games.
Los Angeles enters the matchup at 3–7 after opening the year 3–2. The team has gone 0–5 in November, struggling to generate scoring balance without Leonard and Beal. Harden has carried the offensive load, but the Clippers have allowed at least 114 points in four of their last five games.
Denver, meanwhile, has found its rhythm after a slow start. The Nuggets improved to 8–2 following Tuesday night’s 122–108 win over the Sacramento Kings. Nikola Jokić recorded 35 points, 15 rebounds, and 8 assists in that victory, continuing his dominant stretch to start the season.
The three-time MVP is averaging 26.2 points, 13.2 rebounds, and 11.4 assists through ten games, anchoring a Denver offense that ranks among the most efficient in the league. Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon have provided additional scoring support, combining for over 40 points per game during the team’s current five-game winning streak.
Defensively, the Clippers will need contributions from Kris Dunn and Derrick Jones Jr. on the perimeter to contain Denver’s playmaking. Ivica Zubac and Brook Lopez are expected to rotate on Jokic, who has been nearly unstoppable in one-on-one coverage.
For Los Angeles, the key will be maintaining pace and limiting turnovers. The Clippers have averaged 15.5 giveaways per game this season, a number that could prove costly against a Nuggets team that thrives in transition.
Tip-off is set for 10:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. The game marks the first meeting of the season between the two Western Conference contenders, though the Clippers’ health situation may tilt the matchup heavily in Denver’s favor.
