Nuggets Vs Clippers: Bennedict Mathurin’s 38 Powers Clippers to 115-114 Thriller
In a dramatic late finish in the nuggets vs clippers matchup, the Los Angeles Clippers held on for a 115-114 victory. Bennedict Mathurin tied his career high with 38 points in his debut with the team, Jamal Murray missed a game-tying free throw with under a second to play, and the result moved the Clippers to 27-28 while the Nuggets fell to 35-21.
Nuggets Vs Clippers — Mathurin’s debut and The Wall decide finish
Bennedict Mathurin’s scoring outburst came off the bench and proved decisive. He made two free throws that pushed the Clippers in front late, and the Nuggets had one final chance after a three-shot foul was drawn with 0. 9 seconds remaining. Murray converted the first two free throws but missed the third, sealing the Clippers’ one-point win on the front end of a back-to-back.
The game’s closing sequence featured the arena’s steep seating configuration known as The Wall. That environment was described as a factor in the final free-throw attempt, and the miss secured the Clippers’ narrow victory.
Mathurin’s stat line, roster context and in-game momentum
Mathurin finished with a line that included 38 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals. His 38 tied his career high and surpassed a previous mark for most points by a player in a Clippers home debut. The scoring burst followed a trade that moved Mathurin from his former team to Los Angeles earlier this month; the deal also involved roster and draft-pick movement that left other players yet to appear for their new clubs.
The Clippers saw contributions beyond Mathurin. Kawhi Leonard extended a career-best streak of consecutive 20-point games to 34, scoring 23 points in this contest. For the Nuggets, the team led by double digits in the third quarter but struggled late; turnovers and missed free throws in the fourth quarter were highlighted as key factors in the loss, which featured five missed free throws for Denver in the final period — the most they have missed in a fourth-quarter loss this season.
Key numbers and what they mean
- Final score: Clippers 115, Nuggets 114.
- Clippers record after the game: 27-28; Nuggets record: 35-21.
- Mathurin: 38 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals (tied career high).
- Jamal Murray: missed a potential game-tying free throw with 0. 9 seconds remaining; season free-throw percentage cited in coverage was 88. 7%.
- Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard: 23 points; streak of 20-point games extended to 34.
The result puts the Clippers at 27-28, a mark noted alongside an assessment of their standing in the Western Conference, and highlights the immediate impact of Mathurin’s move. For the Nuggets, the defeat underscored late-game free-throw struggles and turnovers as decisive elements in a one-point loss.
Recent coverage of the contest emphasized the unique finish and Mathurin’s home debut performance. Details about broader playoff implications and upcoming matchups were not part of this summary and may evolve with subsequent games.
