The Clippers take a commanding 2-1 lead in the series after beating the Nuggets 117-83
Los Angeles Clippers #1 James Harden (G) is going strong to the basket against several Denver Nuggets defenders. Photo by DeAngelo Scruggs/TGSportstv1 April 24, 2025.
LOS ANGELES, CA - The Los Angeles Clippers crushed the Denver Nuggets 117-83 in game three of their best-of-seven series, securing a decisive win in their inaugural playoff contest at the Intuit Dome, taking a 2-1 lead.
The atmosphere in the building was electric, and the crowd was ecstatic, giving the Clippers a true home-court advantage as their owner Steve Balmer envisioned when he decided to move his team away from Crypto.com Arena.
Aaron Gordon put the Nuggets on the scoreboard first with a layup and a foul. Norman Powell responded for the Clippers with a three-pointer to tie the game at 3-3 and get things started for Los Angeles. The Nuggets jumped out to an early 26-19 lead with 03:15 remaining in the period.
Denver Nuggets #15 Nikola Jokic (C) scored 23 points, 13 rebounds, and 13 assists against the Los Angeles Clippers’ defense. Photo by DeAngelo Scruggs/TGSportstv1 April 24, 2025.
Gordon led Denver with 11 first-quarter points. The Clippers rallied behind All-Star James Harden, who hit back-to-back three-pointers to cut the deficit to 26-25.
Harden orchestrated a 10-0 run to end the first period, capped by a buzzer-beating fly-by three to Batum that ignited the crowd and set the tone for a dominant evening by Los Angeles.
The Clippers led 35-28 at the end of the first quarter. "It was crackin', it was loud. Just how I expected it to be," Harden said when asked about his thoughts on the Intuit Dome crowd. He even credited them for their tremendous start. "That's one of the reasons why we jumped out to a huge lead".
Maintaining their momentum from the first period, Los Angeles began the second quarter with a 13-4 run highlighted by a pair of three-pointers from Batum and another from Derrick Jones Jr. The Clippers’ defense tightened up and stretched their lead to 20 points.
Los Angeles Clippers #2 Kawhi Leonard (F) is going around a screen set by his teammate #40 Ivica Zubac (C). Photo by DeAngelo Scruggs/TGSportstv1 April 24, 2025.
Los Angeles outscored the Nuggets 30-19 in the second quarter and took a commanding 65-47 lead into halftime. While the Clippers were red-hot from beyond the arc in the first half, shooting 54% (12 of 22), Denver struggled at 27% (5 of 18).
Los Angeles shot 51% (23 of 45) from the field compared to Denver's 41% (19 of 46). The Clippers maintained their defensive tenacity and extended their lead in the third quarter. Norman Powell led the charge, scoring 12 points.
Jokic and Murray showed some offensive sparks as they scored 8 points each in the period, but Denver struggled with turnovers and could not mount a significant comeback.
Kawhi Leonard, in the fourth quarter, closed the game by scoring 7 of his 21 points. With 5:08 remaining, Jones Jr.'s fourth three-pointer of the night slammed the door shut on the Nuggets, extending the Clippers' lead to 106-82 as both teams cleared their bench.