Denver Nuggets vs Los Angeles Clippers

Following an electrifying Game One, the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers will face off again at Ball Arena on Tuesday, just two days after their last clash.

The Nuggets narrowly clinched a hard-earned win in the series opener, and another victory here would bring them closer to sealing the series.

The playoff opener on Saturday lived up to the hype of their thrilling regular-season matchups, delivering the first taste of postseason overtime. David Adelman’s squad started slowly, falling behind by as much as 15 points, but a second-half surge, capped by Russell Westbrook’s near-game-winner with 25 seconds left, set the stage for a dramatic finish. James Harden’s late heroics forced overtime, but the Nuggets dominated the extra period, with four starters contributing to a 112-100 victory.

After such an intense battle, the Nuggets must regroup quickly to face a Clippers team that boasted a 17-3 record in their last 20 games before Saturday. Nikola Jokic, who nearly recorded his 19th playoff triple-double with 29 points, nine rebounds, and 12 assists, was the standout for Denver. The reigning MVP will aim for another stellar performance to secure a commanding 2-0 lead, a margin that often proves decisive.

The Clippers, coming off a strong showing in their regular-season finale against the Golden State Warriors, started fast in Game One but couldn’t close it out.

Despite a back-and-forth battle, Tyronn Lue’s squad fell just short in a game that could have gone either way. While the loss stings, the series remains wide open, setting the stage for an exciting playoff showdown.

James Harden shined with a team-high 32 points and 11 assists, giving the Clippers a standout performance. However, Kawhi Leonard struggled despite scoring 20 points, committing seven costly turnovers that hurt his team’s chances.

Ball security was a major issue for the Clippers, as their -9 turnover margin (11-20) allowed the Nuggets to attempt eight more shots (94 total), ultimately proving decisive.

Now, with Game 3 at Intuit Dome—the arena’s first-ever playoff game—the Clippers must regroup and even the series to avoid facing an uphill battle moving forward.