Nuggets defeat Clippers in Game 1 of their series 112-110 behind 29 points, nine rebounds, 12 assists and three steals by Nikola Jokic, as well as 25 points and a clutch eight rebounds by Aaron Gordon. Jamal Murray had 21 points, nine rebounds and seven assists while Russell Westbrook, who hit a huge three late, had 15 points and eight rebounds off the bench. James Harden had 32 points, six rebounds and 11 assists while Kawhi Leonard had 22 points, six rebounds and three steals. Ivaca Zubac had 21 points and 13 rebounds.
Source: journal-topics.com
Source: journal-topics.com
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
Did Jokic just rip the ball away from a Clippers assistant who wouldn’t give it up?! – 6:08 PM
Did Jokic just rip the ball away from a Clippers assistant who wouldn’t give it up?! – 6:08 PM
Nick DePaula @NickDePaula
Nikola Jokic is wearing SpongeBob themed Joker 1s to start the Playoffs: pic.x.com/W2bxNU0x9f – 6:08 PM
Nikola Jokic is wearing SpongeBob themed Joker 1s to start the Playoffs: pic.x.com/W2bxNU0x9f – 6:08 PM
Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
Basketball special teams: Nikola Jokic spikes two free throws.
Zubac goal-tended, Clippers re-take the lead pending official review – 6:06 PM
Basketball special teams: Nikola Jokic spikes two free throws.
Zubac goal-tended, Clippers re-take the lead pending official review – 6:06 PM
Synergy Sports Tech @SynergySST
The rest of the Nuggets have shot 44% from 3 on the shots resulting from defenses doubling Jokic this season. – 5:57 PM
The rest of the Nuggets have shot 44% from 3 on the shots resulting from defenses doubling Jokic this season. – 5:57 PM
Ramona Shelburne @ramonashelburne
Jokic is as mad as you’ll see him. He got hit in the face by DJJ forearm, went down. No foul was called. Referee motioned for the 5 second count to begin while Joker was still on the ground. He tosses the ball in, then gets up to argue and is immediately T’d up. – 5:48 PM
Jokic is as mad as you’ll see him. He got hit in the face by DJJ forearm, went down. No foul was called. Referee motioned for the 5 second count to begin while Joker was still on the ground. He tosses the ball in, then gets up to argue and is immediately T’d up. – 5:48 PM
Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
Jokic just got hit in the face…we think? Picked up a technical after laying on his back for a while and then getting in the ref’s face when he simply didn’t stop play. – 5:47 PM
Jokic just got hit in the face…we think? Picked up a technical after laying on his back for a while and then getting in the ref’s face when he simply didn’t stop play. – 5:47 PM
Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
Nikola Jokic tech after he took a shot to the face from Derrick Jones Jr., who was reacting to contact to the back from Jokic
Ball Arena reacting accordingly
Timeout Denver, 6:41 to play. Nicolas Batum 3 gave Clippers 84-81 lead – 5:47 PM
Nikola Jokic tech after he took a shot to the face from Derrick Jones Jr., who was reacting to contact to the back from Jokic
Ball Arena reacting accordingly
Timeout Denver, 6:41 to play. Nicolas Batum 3 gave Clippers 84-81 lead – 5:47 PM
Tony Jones @Tjonesonthenba
Jamal Murray simply doesn’t have it so far……Jokic pops off the bench before this gets out of hand – 5:42 PM
Jamal Murray simply doesn’t have it so far……Jokic pops off the bench before this gets out of hand – 5:42 PM
Tony Jones @Tjonesonthenba
Non Jokic minutes here……could go a long way towards deciding the game – 5:36 PM
Non Jokic minutes here……could go a long way towards deciding the game – 5:36 PM
Peter Vecsey @PeterVecsey1
I was afraid Joker would jackknife as he raced to the basket off that steal… – 5:35 PM
I was afraid Joker would jackknife as he raced to the basket off that steal… – 5:35 PM
Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
Game kinda going as expected in that Jokic is the best player on the floor but Harden, Kawhi and Zubac are lapping every other Nugget. – 5:16 PM
Game kinda going as expected in that Jokic is the best player on the floor but Harden, Kawhi and Zubac are lapping every other Nugget. – 5:16 PM
Tony Jones @Tjonesonthenba
Nikola Jokic has been terrific so far in the third quarter, on both ends – 5:13 PM
Nikola Jokic has been terrific so far in the third quarter, on both ends – 5:13 PM
Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
(Running a bit behind but)
Why did Ty Lue take Harden out for the last 90 seconds? Yes, he had three fouls, but so did Jokic. The ability to attack Jokic while in foul trouble is just way more valuable than the risk of Harden, a guard, picking up a fourth foul. – 5:04 PM
(Running a bit behind but)
Why did Ty Lue take Harden out for the last 90 seconds? Yes, he had three fouls, but so did Jokic. The ability to attack Jokic while in foul trouble is just way more valuable than the risk of Harden, a guard, picking up a fourth foul. – 5:04 PM
Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
Second quarter offense was terrible outside of Kawhi, and even Kawhi contributed to poor performance with no assists and three turnovers.
But Clippers not named Kawhi had only 6 points on 3/12 FGs with 5 turnovers in 2nd quarter.
Denver has life if Jokic gets some help. – 4:56 PM
Second quarter offense was terrible outside of Kawhi, and even Kawhi contributed to poor performance with no assists and three turnovers.
But Clippers not named Kawhi had only 6 points on 3/12 FGs with 5 turnovers in 2nd quarter.
Denver has life if Jokic gets some help. – 4:56 PM
Duvalier Johnson @DuvalierJohnson
At the half: Clippers 53, Nuggets 49
Denver turned in on in that 2nd quarter and limited Clippers to just 18 pts
Jokic has 13 points, Gordon has 8 pts and Braun has 2 steals.
If you’re Adelman, what’s your message to the team? – 4:53 PM
At the half: Clippers 53, Nuggets 49
Denver turned in on in that 2nd quarter and limited Clippers to just 18 pts
Jokic has 13 points, Gordon has 8 pts and Braun has 2 steals.
If you’re Adelman, what’s your message to the team? – 4:53 PM
Tony Jones @Tjonesonthenba
Zubac has really made offense difficult for Jokic…….Making him expend real energy to score and create basketball advantage – 4:41 PM
Zubac has really made offense difficult for Jokic…….Making him expend real energy to score and create basketball advantage – 4:41 PM
Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
Zubac and Jokic draw offensive fouls against each other on back-to-back plays – 4:40 PM
Zubac and Jokic draw offensive fouls against each other on back-to-back plays – 4:40 PM
Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
Seeing the Jokic foul and then makeup call in real time was interesting. – 4:39 PM
Seeing the Jokic foul and then makeup call in real time was interesting. – 4:39 PM
Tony Jones @Tjonesonthenba
Right now there are just a number of issues for Denver……The Nuggets aren’t defending. They aren’t shooting well. They aren’t taking care of the ball. They aren’t getting Jokic in advantageous spots. Jamal Murray has been muted. I’m running out of characters – 4:35 PM
Right now there are just a number of issues for Denver……The Nuggets aren’t defending. They aren’t shooting well. They aren’t taking care of the ball. They aren’t getting Jokic in advantageous spots. Jamal Murray has been muted. I’m running out of characters – 4:35 PM
Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
Running zone with Jokic having to guard Kawhi in iso on the perimeter doesn’t seem like a great idea, but what do I know? – 4:30 PM
Running zone with Jokic having to guard Kawhi in iso on the perimeter doesn’t seem like a great idea, but what do I know? – 4:30 PM
Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
Don’t know how wise a Nuggets lineup is without Jokic AND Murray – 4:19 PM
Don’t know how wise a Nuggets lineup is without Jokic AND Murray – 4:19 PM
Tony Jones @Tjonesonthenba
Nikola Jokic has been awful defensively to start this one…..consistently getting caught in no mans land in the drop…..The Nuggets guards haven’t been good in POA but Jokic has to start providing more resistance – 4:03 PM
Nikola Jokic has been awful defensively to start this one…..consistently getting caught in no mans land in the drop…..The Nuggets guards haven’t been good in POA but Jokic has to start providing more resistance – 4:03 PM
Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
Jokic not executing early defensively and Harden taking full advantage. – 4:02 PM
Jokic not executing early defensively and Harden taking full advantage. – 4:02 PM
Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
I’ve seen Kris Dunn guard Zion Williamson
And now I’ve seen Kris Dunn guard Nikola Jokic – 4:02 PM
I’ve seen Kris Dunn guard Zion Williamson
And now I’ve seen Kris Dunn guard Nikola Jokic – 4:02 PM
Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
It’s the LA Clippers that force the first timeout of the series, as they’re on a 6-0 go-ahead run and lead 17-13 with 6:12 left in 1st quarter
Matchups:
Clippers have Harden on Gordon, Leonard on Porter Jr., Dunn on Murray, Zubac on Jokic, Powell on Braun
Denver has MPJ on Dunn – 3:56 PM
It’s the LA Clippers that force the first timeout of the series, as they’re on a 6-0 go-ahead run and lead 17-13 with 6:12 left in 1st quarter
Matchups:
Clippers have Harden on Gordon, Leonard on Porter Jr., Dunn on Murray, Zubac on Jokic, Powell on Braun
Denver has MPJ on Dunn – 3:56 PM
Lev Akabas @LevAkabas
The Denver Nuggets have historically had the biggest differential between home and road winning percentage of any NBA team due to the mile high altitude
In the Jokic era, they’re 22-11 at home and 13-15 on the road in the playoffs pic.x.com/vSxjvJ31F8 – 3:55 PM
The Denver Nuggets have historically had the biggest differential between home and road winning percentage of any NBA team due to the mile high altitude
In the Jokic era, they’re 22-11 at home and 13-15 on the road in the playoffs pic.x.com/vSxjvJ31F8 – 3:55 PM
More on this storyline
Ramona Shelburne: Nikola Jokic is as mad as you’ll see him. He got hit in the face by DJJ forearm, went down. No foul was called. Referee motioned for the 5 second count to begin while Joker was still on the ground. He tosses the ball in, then gets up to argue and is immediately T’d up. -via x.com / April 19, 2025
Ryan Blackburn: Ty Lue on guarding Nikola Jokic: “We wanna make sure we’re locked into him and showing him a crowd.” Sounds like the Clippers will probably double at times or show heavy help in the paint. -via Twitter @NBABlackburn / April 19, 2025
Nikola Jokic on Ivica Zubac: “He was kind of one-dimensional before. But now he can post up, he can pass from the pocket. He’s really evolving his game.” “He’s a really good defender…it’s going to be a fun matchup.” -via reddit / April 18, 2025
