DENVER — Jamal Murray scored a game-high 20 points and the Denver Nuggets beat the Clippers 120-98 on Friday night despite a quiet game from Nikola Jokic.
Jokic, who scored 56 and 48 points in the previous two games, set or tied season lows with 16 points, seven rebounds and two assists.
Coach Michael Malone has been trying to find a way to take the pressure off Jokic and found an opportunity Friday. Jokic played less than 30 minutes and didn’t get off the bench in the fourth quarter.
Norman Powell scored 16 points and James Harden had 15 points and nine turnovers for the Clippers (14-12), who dropped their second in a row.
In the first two games against Denver this season, Powell averaged 32.6 points and hit 63.2% of his three-point attempts. He was held to half of that and made only three of 10 from deep.
The Clippers scored 18 straight points in the second quarter to turn a 12-point deficit into a five-point lead. Denver missed eight shots and had 10 turnovers in nearly six minutes.
The Clippers led 58-55 early in the third quarter when Murray came up with two steals that sparked a 23-5 run to take control. Michael Porter Jr. scored 10 of his 17 points in the quarter.
Denver held an opponent below 100 points for the first time since April 9.
Up next
Both teams play Monday night, with the Clippers hosting the Utah Jazz and the Nuggets on the road at Sacramento.