Mathurin’s Explosive Debut, Murray’s Heartbreak: Clippers Edge Nuggets in Thriller
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — In a postseason-caliber atmosphere at the Intuit Dome, the LA Clippers escaped with a 115–114 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night. The game, the first for both teams following the All-Star break, came down to a dramatic final second that saw Denver’s Jamal Murray nearly pull off a miraculous comeback.
The Mathurin Era Begins
The story of the night was Bennedict Mathurin. In his home debut since being acquired from Indiana at the trade deadline, Mathurin exploded for a career-high 38 points off the bench. His relentless downhill aggression and 12-for-13 shooting from the charity stripe kept the Clippers afloat during a physical contest that saw tempers flare in the fourth quarter.
“The stage never seemed too bright for him,” said one analyst following Mathurin’s record-setting debut—the most points ever scored by a Clippers reserve in their home opener.
Murray’s Final Second Heartbreak
The Nuggets, trailing 115–112 with just 9.1 seconds remaining, turned to their “Blue Arrow.” After a late surge that included a clutch dunk and a three-pointer, Jamal Murray was fouled by Derrick Jones Jr. on a three-point attempt with only 0.9 seconds on the clock.
Standing before the Clippers’ “Fan Wall,” Murray calmly sank the first two free throws. However, the third—which would have sent the game to overtime—clattered off the rim. Time expired on the rebound, leaving the Nuggets just one point shy of a comeback.
By the Numbers
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Nikola Jokić: 22 points, 17 rebounds, and 6 assists. Despite the gaudy numbers, the reigning MVP struggled with 6 turnovers and a taped right wrist.
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Jamal Murray: 20 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists, but shot just 5-for-15 from the field.
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Bruce Brown: Provided a massive spark with 19 points on efficient shooting.
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Kawhi Leonard: 23 points, extending his streak of 20+ point games to 34.
Injury Woes Continue
Denver’s depth remains a primary concern as they fall to 35–21 on the season. The team was without Aaron Gordon (hamstring) for the 10th consecutive game and Peyton Watson (hamstring), who has missed the last four. Their absence was felt on the defensive end as the Clippers’ wings found frequent success in the paint.
What’s Next?
The Nuggets have no time to dwell on the loss. They fly to Portland today for a back-to-back matchup against the Trail Blazers at 8:00 PM MST. Denver currently sits 4th in the West and will look to regain momentum before the standings tighten further.
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