Kawhi Leonard recorded 21 points, 11 rebounds and six assists and the Los Angeles Clippers took a 2-1 series lead with a convincing 117-83 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night at Inglewood, California
James Harden had 20 points – all in the first half – to go with nine assists and six rebounds, while Norman Powell also scored 20 for the fifth-seeded Clippers. Ivica Zubac registered 19 points and nine rebounds as Los Angeles won its second straight in the best-of-seven, first-round series.
Denver star Nikola Jokic recorded 23 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists for his 20th career postseason triple-double. Jamal Murray also scored 23 points and Aaron Gordon added 15 points and seven rebounds for the fourth-seeded Nuggets.
“We got to build off of this,” said Clippers coach Tyronn Lue. “It’s only two (victories). Today, I liked our approach and I like what we did defensively. It’s still going to be a tough series. It’s not over because we had a blowout. It’s only one (game). So we have to be ready to come out on Saturday.”
Game 4 is Saturday night on the Clippers’ home floor.
Russell Westbrook (left foot inflammation) sat out the second half for Denver.
The Clippers shot 48.2 percent from the field, including 18 of 39 from 3-point range. Nicolas Batum had 12 points and three blocked shots, and fellow reserve Derrick Jones Jr. had 10 points. Los Angeles held a 48-38 rebounding advantage.
Denver made 40.3 percent of its attempts and was 7 of 26 from behind the arc.
Harden and Batum each made three 3-pointers in the first half and Los Angeles was 12 of 22 from deep to hold a 65-47 halftime lead.
“We got a contribution from everybody,” said Harden. “Everybody made shots, we played as a team.”
Denver led 26-19 after Murray’s layup with 3:15 remaining in the first quarter.
The Clippers then ignited with a 23-2 run. They led 35-28 after the opening quarter and ended their spurt with seven straight points in the second quarter to lead by 14.
The Nuggets later moved within 50-40 on Westbrook’s 3-pointer with 6:23 left in the second quarter, before Los Angeles ripped off the next eight points to hold an 18-point advantage.
“We got what we deserved,” said Nuggets interim coach David Adelman. “We’ll reassess tonight, watch the film. ... Bottom line: This was not good enough. This was not our standard in any way.”
A basket by Zubac early in the third quarter gave the Clippers a 72-50 lead. Powell, who scored 12 points in the third quarter, later converted a three-point play to make it 85-60 with 3:35 left in the period.
Denver used a 10-2 run to creep within 17 late in the third quarter. But Batum drilled a trey with 7.3 seconds left as the Clippers took a 90-70 lead into the final stanza.
The Nuggets scored just 13 points in the fourth quarter, and Los Angeles ended the game with a 14-1 burst to make the final score even more one-sided.
Kawhi Leonard leads Clippers’ rout of Nuggets for series lead
https://arab.news/pjtwq
Kawhi Leonard leads Clippers’ rout of Nuggets for series lead
- Kawhi Leonard records 21 points, 11 rebounds and six assists
- Game 4 is Saturday night on the Los Angeles Clippers’ home floor
Emirates NBA Cup forming ‘its own identity’, as final 8 teams advance
- NBA Executive Vice President and Head of Basketball Operations James Jones say players now “understand the value” of the competition
DUBAI: The Emirates NBA Cup continues to gather pace in its second showing, with eight teams advancing to the knockout rounds and league executives highlighting strong global interest, including significant growth in the Middle East.
The quarterfinal lineup features the Toronto Raptors, Orlando Magic, Oklahoma City Thunder, Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, San Antonio Spurs, Miami Heat and Phoenix Suns. The quarterfinals begin on Dec. 9, followed by the semifinals on Dec. 13 and the championship game on Dec. 16, with both the semifinals and final hosted in Las Vegas.
The Emirates NBA Cup was established in 2023 and its first two events were won by the Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks.
A tournament that has changed perceptions
League officials say the Cup has quickly established itself as a competitive focal point in the early months of the season. James Jones, NBA executive vice president and head of basketball operations, said players now approach the event with far stronger investment than during its launch year.
He explained that although the Cup concept felt unfamiliar at first, its structure and stakes have now become part of the league’s competitive rhythm.
“Once the players began to understand the concept of the Cup, they became excited because it created enhanced competition. The Cup has started to form its own identity. There are multiple ways to win: You can win the Cup, and you can also win the NBA Championship. There is nothing better than having two trophies in one season.”
Growing audiences in the Middle East
Interest in the Emirates NBA Cup continues to rise across international markets. Jones highlighted the Middle East as one of the fastest-growing regions for viewership, with Abu Dhabi’s consistent NBA presence playing a central role. The UAE capital hosted preseason games each year from 2022 to 2025, building a strong regional fan base and elevating awareness of the league.
“Viewership continues to soar,” he said. “Everyone was waiting to see how the league and the players would respond to the Cup, and now they can see that we are fully invested. Our global games, particularly in Abu Dhabi, have made the NBA more familiar to fans in the region. The growth over the last five years has been remarkable.”
This year’s knockout rounds feature several marquee names, including LeBron James and Luka Doncic, with the Lakers, Kevin Durant with the Suns, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with Oklahoma City and Jalen Brunson leading the Knicks, among others. Their presence has lifted international engagement as the tournament approaches its decisive stages.
“Big names definitely boost viewership, and their presence also raises the level of competition,” Jones said. “The Cup gives young players a platform to show how good they are. Those moments usually only happen in the playoffs, but now we see them in December.”
McGrady: Cup brings playoff pressure earlier in the season
NBA Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady shared a similar sentiment, praising the Emirates NBA Cup for giving developing teams valuable postseason-style exposure.
“It gives those bottom-feed teams that are struggling to put a roster together, to build a team and make a run to the playoffs, a chance to feel that playoff atmosphere again,” McGrady said. “Because it is in-season, it raises the competitive nature of the league.”
“In terms of competition, it is very competitive, and that is what we want.”
As the quarterfinals tip off on Dec. 9 and the semifinals draw closer in Las Vegas, the Emirates NBA Cup continues to establish itself as one of the most influential features of the NBA calendar, shaping early-season momentum and giving fans a December preview of the intensity usually reserved for the NBA playoffs in spring.
