Mathurin Shines in Home Debut
Bennedict Mathurin made a spectacular entrance in his home debut for the Los Angeles Clippers, scoring an impressive 38 points as his team narrowly defeated the Denver Nuggets 115-114 on Thursday night in Inglewood, California. The game came down to a dramatic finish, with Denver’s Jamal Murray given a chance to equalize after being fouled by Derrick Jones Jr. with only 0.9 seconds on the clock. Murray converted the first two free throws but was unable to sink the crucial third attempt, leaving the Nuggets just short as time expired.
Team Contributions
In addition to Mathurin’s standout performance, Kawhi Leonard contributed with 23 points, while Jones added 22, propelling the Clippers to an impressive record of 21-7 since December 20. This matchup marked the return of both teams following the All-Star break.
Mathurin, who recently joined the Clippers from the Indiana Pacers at the trade deadline, showcased his shooting skills, finishing the night with 12 successful field goals out of 22 attempts. Leonard, for his part, maintained his scoring streak, hitting at least 20 points for the 34th straight game, despite going 8 for 18 from the field.
Nuggets’ Performance
On the Nuggets’ side, Nikola Jokic delivered a strong performance with 22 points and 17 rebounds. Murray scored 20 points while Bruce Brown and Cam Johnson each contributed 19, with Julian Strawther also adding 18 points. The team, however, was still feeling the absence of Aaron Gordon due to a hamstring injury, marking his tenth consecutive game off the roster, and Peyton Watson has also missed the last four games for the same reason.
Game Highlights
Tensions flared partway through the fourth quarter when a scuffle occurred under the basket, leading to technical fouls for Clippers’ players Yanic Konan Niederhauser, Kris Dunn, and Mathurin, as well as Jonas Valanciunas from the Nuggets during a free throw sequence. The technical foul gave Denver a free throw to tie the game at 83.
With a crucial basket from Jokic, the Nuggets were able to tie the game again at 107-107 with just 46 seconds remaining. Mathurin later sealed the game with two critical free throws, bringing the score to 115-112 with nine seconds left.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, the Nuggets will take on the Portland Trail Blazers for their next game on Friday, while the Clippers are set to host their city rivals, the Los Angeles Lakers, the same night.
