On Thursday night, the Los Angeles Clippers dominated the Denver Nuggets with a 117-83 victory in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series, taking a 2-1 lead. Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers with 21 points and 11 rebounds, supported by James Harden and Norman Powell with 20 points each. In a new state-of-the-art arena, the Intuit Dome, Clippers’ fans mocked Nikola Jokic with horse hats due to his love for the animal.
After splitting the first two games in Denver, this game was a blowout with the Clippers taking a 20-point lead in the second quarter. Despite Jokic’s triple-double performance with 23 points, 13 rebounds, and 13 assists, the Nuggets struggled to keep up with the Clippers. The Clippers outscored the Nuggets from the three-point line and dominated the boards, as Denver’s key players like Russell Westbrook and Michael Porter Jr. faced injury limitations.
The game also saw a nostalgic touch with former Clipper Chris Paul in attendance and DeAndre Jordan playing for the Nuggets. Game 4 is set for Saturday at the Inglewood arena, where Clippers billionaire owner Steve Ballmer cheered on his team and celebrated the victory. The Clippers showcased their dominance and depth in this game, setting the stage for an exciting continuation of the series.
