Two days after taking Game 1 into overtime, Game 2 nearly went to extra time as well. However, Nikola Jokic’s final-second 25-foot desperation shot attempt clanked off the board and the Los Angeles Clippers escaped with a 105-102 win over the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena on Monday night.
The series is evened up at a game apiece with the Clippers returning home to the friendly confines of Intuit Dome for Game 3 on Thursday (10 p.m. ET on NBA TV).
Game 2 was a thriller as the evenly matched Clippers and Nuggets played through 18 lead changes in a game that was tied 12 times. The Clippers prevailed thanks in large part to Kawhi Leonard, who scored a game-high 39 points on an impressive 15-for-19 shooting.
Jokic had a triple-double (26 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists), but it wasn’t enough for the Nuggets.
USA TODAY Sports provided updates, scores and highlights from Game 2 of the Clippers-Nuggets series:
Clippers vs. Nuggets score
Clippers 105, Nuggets 102 (final)
Clippers vs. Nuggets highlights
Kawhi Leonard stats
Minutes: 39
Points: 39
Rebounds: 3
Assists: 5
Steals: 2
Blocks: 1
Free throw percentage: 100% (5-5)
Field goal percentage: 78.9% (15-19)
3-point percentage: 57.1% (4-7)
Nikola Jokić stats
Minutes: 43
Points: 26
Rebounds: 12
Assists: 10
Steals: 3
Blocks: 0
Free throw percentage: 60% (6-10)
Field goal percentage: 50% (8-16)
3-point percentage: 50% (4-8)
Jamal Murray, Norman Powell get into kerfuffle
Emotions got hot midway through the third quarter, as the Nuggets’ Jamal Murray and the Clippers’ Norman Powell started a brouhaha that involved multiple players.
Murray was only assessed a common foul for his role in the shenanigans. Powell and Kris Dunn received technical fouls, as did the Nuggets’ Christian Braun, for their involvement in the pushing and shoving.
Two of the technical fouls offset each other, so the Nuggets got to shoot a free throw.
This series might get spicy.
Clippers vs. Nuggets halftime update
Kawhi Leonard hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the Clippers a 55-52 halftime lead in a game that is aiming to match the excitement of a Game 1 that was decided in overtime.
Leonard was on fire in the first half, scoring a game-high 21 points on 9-for-10 shooting (2-for-3 from 3-point range). James Harden and Ivica Zubac each pitched in 10 points apiece for the Clippers.
Jamal Murray led the Nuggets in scoring in the first half with 12 points, as the Clippers held Nikola Jokic to eight points. Michael Porter Jr. added nine points for Denver.
What time is Nuggets vs. Clippers?
Game 2 of the NBA playoff series between the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers is at 10 p.m. ET on Monday, April 21.
How to watch Nuggets vs. Clippers Game 2: Time, TV, streaming info for NBA playoffs
Date: Monday, April 21
Time: 10 p.m. ET
Location: Ball Arena (Denver)
TV: TNT, truTV, Max
Stream: Max, Sling TV
Watch Nuggets vs. Clippers Game 2 with Sling TV
LA Clippers Game 2 starting lineup
PG James Harden
SG Kris Dunn
SF Norman Powell
PF Kawhi Leonard
C Ivica Zubac
Denver Nuggets Game 2 starting lineup
PG Jamal Murray
SG Christian Braun
SF Michael Porter Jr.
PF Aaron Gordon
C Nikola Jokić
Clippers vs. Nuggets NBA playoff schedule
Game 1: Nuggets 112, Clippers 110 (OT)
Game 2: Clippers at Nuggets | Tonight, 10 p.m. ET | TNT
Game 3: Nuggets at Clippers | Thursday, April 24, 10 p.m. ET | NBA TV
Game 4: Nuggets at Clippers | Saturday, April 26, 6 p.m. ET | TNT
Game 5: Clippers at Nuggets | Tuesday, April 29, TBD | TBD*
Game 6: Nuggets at Clippers | Thursday, May 1, TBD | TBD*
Game 7: Clippers at Nuggets | Saturday, May 3, TBD | TBD*
Who is the Denver Nuggets coach?
David Adelman, who is the team’s interim coach after Michael Malone was fired last month.
Who is the LA Clippers coach?
Tyronn Lue, who has coached the team the previous five seasons.
What we learned from NBA playoffs Game 1s
The No. 1 seeds took care of business with not much of a worry, and stars – some new, some old – showed up as the NBA playoffs opened with eight Game 1s Saturday and Sunday.
Denver’s Nikola Jokic, Indiana’s Pascal Siakam, New York’s Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards, Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, Boston’s Derrick White, Cleveland’s Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell all showed why they are All-Star caliber players.
And of course, several teams, including the Los Angeles Lakers, need to improve in Game 2. — Jeff Zillgitt and Lorenzo Reyes, USA TODAY Sports