The Los Angeles Clippers survived a late scare Thursday night, edging the Denver Nuggets 115-114 behind a breakout performance from Bennedict Mathurin.
In his home debut after arriving from Indiana at the trade deadline, Mathurin erupted for 38 points on 12-of-22 shooting, including two clutch free throws with nine seconds left that ultimately proved decisive. Kawhi Leonard added 23 points — his 34th straight game with at least 20 — while Derrick Jones Jr. contributed 22 as the Clippers improved to 21-7 since Dec. 20.
Denver had one last opportunity after Jones fouled Jamal Murray on a 3-point attempt with 0.9 seconds remaining. Murray calmly made the first two free throws but missed the third, and time expired on the rebound.
Nikola Jokic led the Nuggets with 22 points and 17 rebounds, including a basket inside that tied the game at 107 with 46 seconds left. Murray finished with 20 points, Bruce Brown scored 19, and both Cam Johnson and Julian Strawther added 18. Denver remained without Aaron Gordon (hamstring) for the 10th straight game and Peyton Watson (hamstring) for the fourth in a row.
Tensions boiled over midway through the fourth quarter when Yanic Konan Niederhauser, Kris Dunn and Mathurin became entangled with Jonas Valanciunas under the basket following a free throw. Dunn, Mathurin and Valanciunas were assessed technical fouls, and Denver converted one technical free throw to knot the score at 83.
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The Clippers held firm down the stretch to secure the one-point victory. Denver heads to Portland on Friday, while the Clippers face the Lakers in Los Angeles.
