Harden scores 37 and Clippers overcome Jokic’s triple-double to beat Nuggets 126-122
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — James Harden scored 39 points – making all 13 of his free throws – and the Los Angeles Clippers overcame Nikola Jokic’s triple-double to beat the Denver Nuggets 126-122 on Sunday night.
Jokic finished with 28 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists for his eighth triple-double of the season.
Harden narrowly missed his triple-double, finishing with nine rebounds and 11 assists.
Norman Powell added 28 points for the Clippers in his return after missing six games due to injury.
Harden made three 3-pointers in the first half, giving him 3,000 in his career.
The Clippers scored three straight points early in the fourth to lead by seven. Jokic hit a 3-pointer and fed Aaron Gordon for a dunk to bring the Nuggets within one.
After the Clippers went up by seven points, Harden turned the ball over under pressure from Gordon after returning from injury. The Nuggets missed their first shot, got the offensive rebound and Christian Braun scored, leaving them trailing 123-121 with 19 seconds left.
The Nuggets opened the third with a 21-11 run to put the Clippers up 10. But Los Angeles rallied with six 3-pointers — three each by Harden and Powell — to lead 92-90 heading into the fourth.
Nuggets: They have now lost twice to the Clippers.
Clippers: They twice held an 11-point lead in the first two quarters only to see Denver tie at halftime. But they remained steady throughout the sequence, making 8 of 9 free throws.
Jokic was 2 of 4 from the free throw line, missing a crucial shot with 9 seconds remaining and the Nuggets trailing by three.
The Clippers made 17 3-pointers while the Nuggets attempted just 21 from long range.
The Nuggets host Golden State and Los Angeles host Portland in NBA Cup games Tuesday night.
___
