Nuggets Vs Clippers: Bennedict Mathurin’s 38, The Wall and a Missed Free Throw Deliver a 115-114 Thriller

The Clippers edged the Nuggets 115-114 in a one-point game that featured a 38-point home debut from Bennedict Mathurin, a late missed free throw by Jamal Murray and a decisive role for the Intuit Dome crowd. The result gave the Clippers a lift in the standings while leaving the Nuggets to absorb a narrow loss.

Nuggets Vs Clippers: What happened and what’s new

The Clippers beat the Nuggets 115-114 on the front end of a back-to-back, improving their record to 27-28 while the Nuggets fell to 35-21. Bennedict Mathurin tied his career high with 38 points in his first home appearance with the Clippers, adding five rebounds, four assists and three steals. He made two free throws that pushed Los Angeles to a 115-112 lead with 9. 1 seconds remaining.

Denver had one last shot. Jamal Murray was drawn into a three-shot foul with 0. 9 seconds left and converted the first two free throws, but missed the potential game-tying free throw on the final attempt. The miss occurred with the Nuggets positioned to rebound against the Clippers’ lineup and with the crowd section known as The Wall behind the free-throw shooter.

Kawhi Leonard scored 23 points, extending a streak of consecutive 20-point games to 34. The Nuggets had held a 74-64 lead with 4: 52 remaining in the third quarter before Los Angeles closed the gap and eventually took the lead in the closing seconds.

Behind the headline

The game unfolded at the Clippers’ arena, where the steep, uninterrupted seating block called The Wall factored into the home environment. Clippers coaching and rotation decisions created opportunities for bench scoring, most notably from Mathurin, who has averaged 22. 0 points in four games with Los Angeles in his early tenure with the team.

The matchup also highlights recent roster movement: Mathurin arrived from Indiana in a trade earlier this month. The broader trade package accompanying his arrival included additional players and future draft assets, and the deal carries conditional language tied to the upcoming draft lottery on May 10. One veteran player acquired by the Pacers in the same transaction has not yet appeared for his new team.

On Denver’s side, late-game execution centered on free-throw shooting and possession management. The team’s missed free throw in the final sequence was the definitive play that determined the outcome.

What we still don’t know; What happens next; Why it matters

What we still don’t know

• How sustainable Mathurin’s scoring pace will be over a larger sample with the Clippers.
• The long-term roster effects of the trade beyond immediate rotation changes, given conditional draft protections tied to the May 10 draft lottery.
• Whether the Nuggets’ late free-throw issues in this game reflect a recurring problem or an isolated lapse.
• The health and availability status of all involved players beyond what was evident in this game.

What happens next — scenarios and triggers

• Clippers build momentum: If Mathurin maintains high scoring and bench depth holds, Los Angeles could climb toward a. 500 finish and improve playoff positioning; trigger — consistent scoring from Mathurin in subsequent games.
• Nuggets regroup and adjust: If Denver corrects late-game free-throw execution and turnover tendencies, the team could resume its prior form; trigger — improved fourth-quarter free-throw conversions and fewer late turnovers.
• Trade ramifications crystallize: The draft-lottery outcome on May 10 will determine which team receives an additional pick under the trade terms, affecting future roster construction; trigger — final lottery standings on May 10.
• Rotation questions intensify: If the big man acquired by Indiana remains unavailable to play, follow-on lineup adjustments could influence both teams’ strategies; trigger — official availability and game appearances.

Why it matters

The one-point result carries immediate standings consequences and broader roster implications. For the Clippers, the victory provided a timely boost after the All-Star break and showcased the immediate on-court impact of a newly acquired scorer. For the Nuggets, the loss underscored the thin margins in late-game execution and highlighted an area — free-throw finishing — that proved decisive. The trade contingencies tied to the draft lottery add a calendar-driven layer of consequence that will affect offseason planning for both teams.

Near-term, fans and front offices will watch whether Mathurin’s performance signals a durable scoring option, whether Denver corrects late-game execution, and how the conditional draft terms resolve after the lottery on May 10.