The Denver Nuggets claimed a 112-110 overtime win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday night. Nikola Jokic again rose to the action, but Denver used a collective effort to overcome a hard-fought challenge from the Clippers, who had managed to force overtime on the road.
The win didn’t come easy. With under a minute remaining in regulation, tensions boiled over during one of the game’s most controversial moments. Clippers star Kawhi Leonard was stripped of the ball by Nuggets guard Jamal Murray.
The loose ball rolled toward the Clippers’ bench, where assistant coach Jeff Van Gundy unexpectedly became involved in the action. As the ball landed near the Clippers’ bench, Jokic raced to retrieve it. But when he reached for the ball, Van Gundy didn’t let go.
JVG having a moment in April with Alonzo Mourning and Nikola Jokic 27 years apart is kind of funny. pic.twitter.com/uQtBEagBW0
— Steve Jones Jr. (@stevejones20) April 19, 2025
It led to a brief struggle between the Nuggets star and the assistant coach. The Clippers were able to use the extra time to challenge the call, but officials upheld the ruling that Leonard had indeed lost possession.
Jokic delivered yet another near triple-double performance. The Serbian big man finished with 29 points, 12 assists, and nine rebounds. Though the Serbian big man was clearly the focal point of Denver’s offense, it was the unlikely heroes around him who made the difference down the stretch.
Nikola Jokic Praises Russell Westbrook After Game 1 Win
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After the game, Nikola Jokic was asked whether Russell Westbrook’s big night in Game 1 could serve as a confidence booster moving forward. But Jokic made it clear that belief has never been an issue for the veteran guard.
“His confidence? I think he has the biggest confidence in this matchup,” Jokic said.
Westbrook drilled a crucial three-pointer late in regulation that briefly gave the Nuggets the lead on Saturday. He finished with 15 points, eight rebounds, and three assists. The two teams will face off again Monday at Ball Arena.
