After briefly tipping into the negative, the Clippers return to balance with a second straight win, this time over the Nuggets. Carried by five players to 11 points or more in this part, the Californians had to erase a first apocalyptic period to meet the duo Nikola Jokic – Aaron Gordon opposite.
It didn’t take long to realize that the attacks were going to shine in this part. After a first quarter ended with a minimal score (16-18), Denver began to gain the upper hand in the second half of the second quarter, taking advantage of the offensive difficulties of the Clippers.
After a series of four free throws, Aaron Gordon gave his team 13 points at the break (28-41). The Clippers’ offensive mismanagement was still relevant in the following minutes. Better in their basketball, the visitors could afford 25 points ahead (34-59), five minutes after the break.
Then, as if by magic, the locals found a semblance of address to return to only 11 units before starting the last period (55-66). A quarter started with a 9-0 Clippers, while Nikola Jokic remained glued to the bench … His return and that of Aaron Gordon helped to rebalance the debates but the Clippers had regained their colors.
It is here that Reggie Jackson, author of 9 of his 13 points in this period, including a violent “poster” on the Serbian pivot, will wake up before the decisive award-winning shots of Amir Coffey and Nicolas Batum in the “money” time ”. The Nuggets still have a chance to win on a last possession where Mike Malone preferred not to take a time-out. But neither Nikola Jokic at 3-point, nor Aaron Gordon on a “tap” shot at mid-distance have achieved the feat at the buzzer.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– Awkwardness, clumsiness … You have to rub your eyes to believe it. With still 7 minutes to play in the third quarter, the Clippers had only … 34 points scored. The locals started their match with a terrible 1/14 3-point finish before correcting things later. The Nuggets were terrible all night behind the arc (4/33) but they made up for it with more points scored in the racket and more free throws obtained. Overall, the two teams shot only 40% success.
– The furious return of the Clippers. All it took was a simple award-winning basket from Marcus Morris, followed by another from Amir Coffey, to get the California machine going. Los Angeles revived in the second half of the third quarter by regaining the address and keeping its serious defensive. And also taking advantage of a very bad passage from the bench of the Nuggets to erase this gap of 25 units.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Aaron Gordon. Record in points this season spoiled for the former strong winger of the Magic. Nikola Jokic’s racquet partner performed in extreme efficiency as the majority of his teammates, with the exception of his pivot, suffered in terms of skill.
✅ Nikola Jokic. The pivot finished just two assists from the triple-double at the end of a new quality match, despite five losses of balls, sector in which his team suffered, and a winning shot, at 3-points and in the buzzer, missed.
✅ Amir Coffey. Undoubtedly the most consistent element of the Clippers this evening. Active in all sectors, including interceptions (4), the back was the player most involved in this meeting. He thus confirmed his career record at 23 points set a few days earlier against the Hawks.
✅ Eric Bledsoe. 11 points, 9 assists and only 5/13 on shots for the muscular rear who however stood out for his role in the comeback of his team. The proof: when he was on the field, the Clippers scored … 28 points more than the Nuggets!
⛔ The bench of the Nuggets. Jeff Green certainly brought 12 points but with a weak 5/16 on shots and -13 in the score when he was in play. Facundo Campazzo did even worse with a -19… The Nuggets bench suffered a lot and did not failed to properly breathe the duo of strongmen Nikola Jokic – Aaron Gordon.
THE FOLLOWING
Clippers (21-21) : trip to the Pelicans, Thursday.
Nuggets (20-19) : Blazers reception, Thursday.
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