Clippers guard Reggie Jackson, right, looks to pass the ball as Denver Nuggets forward Will Barton defends during the first half on Wednesday night in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, second from left, drives to the rim as Clippers center Serge Ibaka, third from left, defends and guards Reggie Jackson, far left, and Terance Mann look on in the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Clippers center Ivica Zubac, left, clears out Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic on the way to the rim in the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue directs his team against the Denver Nuggets in the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon, center, is trapped with the ball between Clippers guards Terance Mann, left, and Eric Bledsoe in the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Clippers center Ivica Zubac, front, passes the ball as Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic defends in the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets forward Will Barton dunks the ball against the Clippers in the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Clippers forward Justise Winslow takes the floor in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon, left, drives to the rim as Clippers guard Terance Mann defends in the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon (50) drives to the rim past Clippers guard Terance Mann in the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Clippers guard Terance Mann prepares to the take the court in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, right, drives the lane as Clippers center Ivica Zubac defends in the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Clippers guard Amir Coffey, left, pulls in a rebound as Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon defends in the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon, back, shoots for a basket over Clippers center Ivica Zubac in the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Clippers guard Eric Bledsoe, front, picks up a loose ball as Denver Nuggets forward Zeke Nnaji pursues in the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022, in Denver. The Nuggets won 130-128 in overtime. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, center, is fouled by Clippers guard Brandon Boston Jr., left, as center Ivica Zubac defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022, in Denver. The Nuggets won 130-128 in overtime. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Clippers guard Reggie Jackson, right, drives past Denver Nuggets guard Monte Morris during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022, in Denver. The Nuggets won 130-128 in overtime. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, center, competes for control of a loose ball with Clippers guard Terance Mann, left, and center Ivica Zubac during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022, in Denver. The Nuggets won 130-128 in overtime. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone, right, holds back center Nikola Jokic as he tries to argue with referees for a call during the second half of the team’s NBA basketball game against the Clippers on Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022, in Denver. The Nuggets won 130-128 in overtime. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Clippers guard Reggie Jackson shoots as Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022, in Denver. The Nuggets won 130-128 in overtime. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, right, fields a pass as Clippers center Serge Ibaka defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022, in Denver. The Nuggets won 130-128 in overtime. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, top left, sits on Clippers guard Eric Bledsoe as a loose ball bounces past to center Isaiah Hartenstein in the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022, in Denver. The Nuggets won 130-128 in overtime. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Clippers center Isaiah Hartenstein argues for a call with referee JB DeRosa during the second half of the team’s NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022, in Denver. The Nuggets won 130-128 in overtime. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Clippers guard Reggie Jackson, right, drives past Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic in the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022, in Denver. The Nuggets won 130-128 in overtime. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon, back, reacts after scoring against the Clippers during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022, in Denver. The Nuggets won 130-128 in overtime. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon gestures after hitting a basket during the second half of the team’s NBA basketball game against the Clippers on Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022, in Denver. The Nuggets won 130-128 in overtime. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Clippers guard Terance Mann, back center, goes up and misses the final shot as, from left, Denver Nuggets guard Monte Morris, forward Aaron Gordon and center Nikola Jokic defend in the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022, in Denver. The Nuggets won 130-128 in overtime. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, right, is defended by Clippers center Ivica Zubac during overtime on Wednesday night in Denver. Jokic had 49 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists in a 130-128 win. Zubac scored a career-high 32 points. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Clippers center Ivica Zubac reacts after being called for a foul in overtime of the team’s NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022, in Denver. The Nuggets won 130-128. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, left, tips in the ball for a basket as Clippers guard Terance Mann defends in overtime of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022, in Denver. The Nuggets won 130-128. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, center, screams after scoring a basket, between teammtate Jeff Green, right, and Clippers guard Terance Mann during overtime in an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022, in Denver. The Nuggets won 130-128. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon, left, shoots the go-ahead basket over Clippers guard Brandon Boston Jr. in the closing seconds of overtime of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022, in Denver. The Nuggets won 130-128. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon, front left, celebrates hitting the go-ahead basket with forward Jeff Green, front right, as Clippers guard Brandon Boston Jr. stands nearby during overtime in an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022, in Denver. The Nuggets won 130-128. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Clippers guard Reggie Jackson, front left, takes and misses the final shot, near Denver Nuggets forward Will Barton, back left, and forward Aaron Gordon in overtime of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022, in Denver. The Nuggets won 130-128. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Tyronn Lue got the good start he requested, and everything he could ask for from center Ivica Zubac, who had a career night sparring with Denver’s All-Star center Nikola Jokic.
But in the end, Lue neither got the calls nor the desired result in a back-and-forth overtime effort Wednesday, when the Clippers fell short, 130-128, at Ball Arena in Denver.
Jokic, the reigning league MVP, finished with a season-high 49 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists – including the last dagger of a dime, off his heels, an audacious skip pass out of a double-team. He delivered the ball over the heads of all of the Clippers defenders on the money to Aaron Gordon in the corner for the game-winner with 1.9 seconds left.
“It couldn’t be more perfect,” Zubac said, via Zoom, of Jokic’s game-sealing set up. “I don’t think many people in this world can make that pass. That’s why he’s MVP of this league.”
Gordon (28 points) drained the 3-point shot to give the Nuggets the 130-127 lead which stood, even after Luke Kennard hit a technical foul shot, made possible when Davon Reed picked up a technical foul for leaving the bench to celebrate, presumably because he assumed the Clippers would call timeout – but they were out of them.
Then Reggie Jackson’s halfcourt shot at the buzzer banked too hard and the Clippers let a win slip from their grasps to start an eight-game road trip, their longest in seven seasons.
Zubac went 15 for 19 from the field and scored eight of his career-high 32 points in extra time, when the Clippers were outpaced 16-14. He also had 10 in the fourth quarter, outscoring Jokic by one point in the frame, when the teams tied, 33-33.
“Felt fun,” Zubac said. “Didn’t have that much fun since, I don’t know, before I got to the league. … But unfortunately, we lost the game and got another coming up soon (Friday in Philadelphia against Joel Embiid’s 76ers). Try to get that one.”
Jokic had 11 points in overtime and went 14 for 16 from the free-throw line overall, finishing with more foul shots than all of the Clippers (9 for 12) combined.
After taking a full two minutes to swig water and calm himself, a frustrated Lue said: “We lost, but we can play with the best of them, no matter who’s on the floor.”
He added: “Our guys battled, we fought, like I said before, I’m glad I’ve had a chance to calm down before I said some things I didn’t say, but I’m pretty sure you guys see it as well.”
And this time they didn’t have to battle back from a double-digit deficit.
After rallying from 17 points down in a three-point loss to Denver in December and then coming all the way back from 25 points down to win by two points against the Nuggets earlier this month, Lue really didn’t want his ever short-handed squad having to dig out of another deep hole.
So, before 14,547 fans at Ball Arena, the Clippers (22-24) made Denver (23-20) the chasers in a frenetic affair that ebbed and flowed and once again came down the wire.
Battling with Jokic through several calls or non-calls with which the Clippers took issue, Zubac added 10 rebounds to his career-high scoring tally.
Jackson had 28 points and a season-high 12 assists, and Brandon Boston Jr. added 16 points and a few words for a heckling fan a few rows up.
And Eric Bledsoe came through with 13 timely points.
It was, at once, a heartbreaking and spirit-lifting way to start the trip, fighting but falling without Marcus Morris Sr. (personal reasons) and Nicolas Batum (health and safety protocols), who were removed from the equation Wednesday, as well as injured All-Stars Kawhi Leonard (ACL) and Paul George (elbow) sidelined indefinitely.
“There’s no moral victories, but this showed who we can be and with our men down,” Jackson said. “We’re proud of the way we competed and we feel like if we continue to take this show on the road, we’ll give ourselves great chances to have a great trip.”
The Clippers did reincorporate Kennard (six points on 2-for-9 shooting) and Justise Winslow (six points, six rebounds and three assists in 14 minutes) into the rotation for the first time since they checked out of health and safety protocols Monday, Kennard having gone onto the COVID-19 list on Jan. 1 and Winslow on Jan. 9.
And to start, the Clippers maintained momentum from their 139-133 victory over Indiana on Monday with a robust first half in which all 10 players who checked in scored, they recorded 17 assists on 24 baskets and had six offensive rebounds, 12 second-chance points and, most importantly, a 59-47 lead.
Amir Coffey’s 3-pointer with 9:24 to play in the third quarter pushed the Clippers’ lead to 70-55 – matching their biggest of the night.
But then they found themselves in one of their familiar scoring lulls, managing only three points – all on free throws – before Bledsoe’s 3-pointer with 1:54 left in the period, which to cut what was, by then, a deficit to 77-76.
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Bledsoe hit another 3-pointer to tie it, proceeded to poke away the ball from Gordon and darted to the rim for a layup to the Clippers back ahead, 81-79.
The teams went back and forth to start the fourth quarter before a 12-4 Clippers spurt that was capped by Kennard’s first and only 3-pointer – which had him mouthing “thank you” and the scoreboard reading 99-95 in his side’s favor.
The Nuggets soon went on an 8-0 run that made it 108-108. And after he and Jokic exchanged free throws, the Clippers’ big man was whistled for his sixth foul – a call that was overturned when Lue challenged it. Zubac closed out regulation and played all of overtime, going the final 6:01 without picking up another foul.
Jokic spun past Zubac to tie it at 112-112, Jackson lofted a floater over Denver’s big man and then the Nuggets’ Will Barton willed in a layup of his own to knot it again at 114-114.
And when Terance Mann – to his great dismay – couldn’t get a shot off to beat the clock, the Nuggets got the ball back and 2.9 seconds to work with. But Jokic’s shot over Clippers’ 7-footers Zubac and Isaiah Hartenstein was wide, sending the Clippers to their second overtime – and to their second OT defeat – this season.
Nikola Jokic on this pass: “I kind of make those passes on a regular basis. It’s a normal pass.”pic.twitter.com/8wyRvadi7j
