The Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers are locked in one of the most exciting first-round matchups of the 2025 NBA Playoffs. And after a wild Game 1, all eyes are back on Ball Arena for Game 2. The series opened with the Clippers as slight favorites, but Denver flipped the odds after a stunning 112–110 comeback win on Saturday.
Game 1 had everything: a clutch three-pointer to force overtime, a game-saving steal by Russell Westbrook in the final seconds, and Nikola Jokic—reigning NBA MVP—falling just one rebound shy of a triple-double. On the other side, James Harden nearly carried the Clippers with 32 points and 11 assists in a heartbreaker of a loss.
Historically, Denver has had the edge, going 6-4 against L.A. in their last 10 meetings while averaging 114.4 points per game. With tensions rising and both teams throwing early punches, Game 2 has all the makings of another classic in this back-and-forth playoff battle.
Los Angeles Clippers vs. Denver Nuggets Box Score
| Team Name | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LA Clippers | 25 | 30 | 23 | 27 | 105 |
| Denver Nuggets | 31 | 21 | 24 | 26 | 102 |
Clippers Players’ Stats
| PLAYER | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | FG% | 3P% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N. Powell | 13 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 35.7% | 50.0% |
| K. Leonard | 39 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 78.9% | 57.1% |
| I. Zubac | 16 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 60.0% | 0.0% |
| K. Dunn | 5 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 28.6% | 25.0% |
| J. Harden | 18 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 41.2% | 36.4% |
| B. Simmons | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 0.0% |
| D. Jones Jr. | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 42.9% | 0.0% |
| N. Batum | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 40.0% | 40.0% |
| B. Bogdanović | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Nuggets Players’ Stats
| PLAYER | PTS | AST | REB | STL | BLK | FG% | 3P% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M. Porter Jr. | 15 | 1 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 54.5% | 50.0% |
| A. Gordon | 14 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 38.5% | 33.3% |
| N. Jokić | 26 | 10 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 50.0% | 50.0% |
| C. Braun | 5 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 28.6% | 0.0% |
| J. Murray | 23 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 52.9% | 50.0% |
| R. Westbrook | 14 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 45.5% | 50.0% |
| P. Watson | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 50.0% | 0.0% |
| J. Pickett | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50.0% | 0.0% |
| D. Jordan | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Los Angeles Clippers vs. Denver Nuggets: Game Summary
The Clippers set the tone early in Game 2, opening the scoring with an Ivica Zubac hook shot assisted by James Harden to go up 2-0. Kawhi Leonard followed with a tough jumper and a three-pointer, pushing L.A. to a 7-4 lead. Denver answered with a Jamal Murray layup and a deep three, briefly taking an 11-7 edge.
But the Clippers rallied, with a Harden 8-footer at the 0:51 mark capping a strong quarter. Zubac’s dunk at 2:30 and Harden’s floor generalship fueled a 31-point frame. Despite Nikola Jokic hitting a deep three and dishing dimes, the Nuggets trailed 31-25 at the end of the first.
In the second quarter, the Clippers took a narrow lead over the Nuggets, 55-52, at halftime. Key moments included Leonard hitting a 13-foot jumper (31-29 Clippers), and Michael Porter Jr. draining a 3-pointer pushing the score to 34-31.
Additionally, Westbrook hit a running big 3-pointer from 24 feet out while Zubac had several rebounds. The quarter featured tight defense and offensive struggles, with the Clippers edging ahead by the end.
Harden was in his bag in the third quarter, hitting deep threes and dropping dimes. Leonard added some smooth mid-range shots, while Zubac and Dunn chipped in with key buckets.
On the other side, Jokic was everywhere—scoring inside, drilling a three, grabbing boards, and setting up teammates. Murray caught fire too, hitting a deep three and a clean jumper. Gordon brought the energy with strong finishes and free throws.
At one point, back-to-back threes from Harden and Batum gave the Clippers a brief edge. But Jokic’s late layup made it 78–76 to end the quarter. Its a closely contested battle that can tilt to either side.
The Nuggets fought hard but fell just short in a nail-biting 105-102 loss to the Clippers. The fourth quarter was filled with intense moments that shifted the momentum back and forth. With just under 2 minutes left, Murray hit a clutch 3-pointer to tie the game at 100, but Leonard, who was on fire, responded with a key jump shot and a steal to help the Clippers hold on for the win.
Nikola Jokic, who had 26 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists, did his best to keep the Nuggets in it, but the Clippers were led by Leonard’s dominant 39-point performance, which included crucial free throws and a 3-pointer late. Murray added 23 points for the Nuggets, but it wasn’t enough to avoid the loss.
The Nuggets had their chances, including a missed 3-pointer by Jokic with just seconds left, but the Clippers’ defense, led by Leonard, ultimately sealed the victory.