National Basketball Association
L.A. Clippers 87, Denver 85
When: 10:30 PM ET, Tuesday, January 11, 2022
Where: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, California
Officials: #61 Courtney Kirkland, #72 JT Orr, #64 Justin Van Duyne
Attendance: 15077

Amir Coffey registered 18 points, seven assists and four steals and the Los Angeles Clippers overcame a 25-point, third-quarter deficit to stun the visiting Denver Nuggets 87-85 on Tuesday night.

Reggie Jackson and Terance Mann added 13 points apiece for Los Angeles, which scored just 28 first-half points. Marcus Morris Sr. had 12 points and Eric Bledsoe tallied 11 as the Clippers won for just the fifth time in the past 14 games.

Aaron Gordon posted season highs of 30 points and 12 rebounds and Nikola Jokic added 21 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists for Denver. Jeff Green had 12 points and Monte Morris tallied 11.

Los Angeles worked its way back from the 25-point deficit to take an 83-81 lead on Coffey's 3-pointer with 2:30 remaining. Nicolas Batum connected for another trey to cap a 52-22 burst and give the Clippers a five-point edge with 1:47 to play.

The Nuggets moved within 87-85 on Jokic's basket with 28.6 seconds left.

Batum missed a 3-point attempt with 9.2 seconds remaining. Jokic collected the rebound, came up court and launched a 3-point try that bounced off the rim with 1.2 seconds left.

Gordon's put-back attempt caromed off the rim just before time expired.

Denver shot 40 percent from the field and a measly 12.1 percent (4 of 33) from 3-point range.

The Clippers shot 40.5 percent from the field, including 10 of 34 (29.4 percent) from behind the arc.

Denver had a 13-point lead to start the second half and scored 18 of the first 24 points in the third quarter to open up a game-best 59-34 advantage with 7:04 left.

Los Angeles suddenly awoke with a 21-3 surge, and Coffey's three-point play cut the deficit to 62-55 with 1:15 left in the quarter.

The Nuggets took a 66-55 lead into the final period before the Clippers rattled off seven straight points. Los Angeles eventually caught Denver at 71 on Jackson's 10-foot jumper in the lane with 7:03 remaining.

Jackson buried a 3-pointer with 5:40 remaining to give Los Angeles a 76-75 edge -- its first lead since early in the second quarter.

The Clippers shot just 27.3 percent in the first half while digging a 41-28 deficit.

Denver led 18-16 after the opening quarter before Los Angeles scored four straight points to take a two-point lead. The Nuggets responded with a 16-4 burst to open up a 10-point lead with 3:25 left in the half.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Denver   L.A. Clippers
Aaron Gordon 30 Scoring Amir Coffey 18
Nikola Jokic 8 Assists Eric Bledsoe 9
Nikola Jokic 13 Rebounds Serge Ibaka 9
Aaron Gordon 7 Free Throws Made Amir Coffey 3
JaMychal Green 1 Steals Amir Coffey 4
Facundo Campazzo 1 Blocks Marcus Morris Sr. 2
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Denver 85 40.0 4-33 17-20 24 56 2 4 20
L.A. Clippers 87 40.5 10-34 9-12 23 31 4 12 9
Upcoming Games
  • L.A. Clippers will play their next game on the road against New Orleans. The Clippers have a W/L % of .500 after a win and .500 after a loss.
  • Denver will play their next game at home against Portland. The Nuggets have a W/L % of .524 after a win and .500 after a loss.