Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers will be squaring off in Game-3 of their postseason series in the American Basketball League 2019-20.
Team Preview
Riding on Jamal Murray’s performance, Nuggets pulled off a great comeback against Utah Jazz in the postseason series after going 3-1 down. Everybody was giving them an upper hand in the conference semifinal series but the Nuggets lost their first game against the Clippers. Nuggets didn’t disappoint their fans and squared the series by taking the second game 101-110. Denver started on high and took the first quarter of 25-44. Clippers tried to outplay Nuggets but they couldn’t recover the first-quarter lead, despite winning the remaining three quarters. The opening quarter decided the positive outcome for Denver to record 101-110 win in Game – 02 to level the series. Nikola Jokic led Nuggets with 26 points, 18 rebounds, and 4 assists. He set a tone for the Nuggets to score 44 points in a single quarter. Murray contributed 26 points while Michael Porter added 11 points plus 7 boards from just 11 minutes coming off the bench.
For Clippers, Leonard almost netted a triple-double with 13 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists. JaMychal Green also scored a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds coming off the bench while Paul George contributed 22 points plus 8 boards. Denver Nuggets shot 45.1 percent from the floor, including 15 out of 40 from the 3-points range while the Clippers shot 40.9 percent field goals, including 9 out of 32 from the beyond the arc. Clippers dominated the offensive rebounds with 52-45 and forced 17 Denver Nuggets turnovers in the victory. Nikola Jokic’s availability is not sure as the star player suffered a wrist injury but Denver would definitely want him to recover ahead of Monday’s game.
Possible Lineups
Los Angeles Clippers
Patrick Beverley (PG), Paul George (SG/SF), Kawhi Leonard (SF), Marcus Morris (SF/PF), Ivica Zubac (C)
Denver Nuggets
Jamal Murray (PG/SG), Gary Harris (SG), Jerami Grant (SF/PF), Paul Millsap (PF/C), Nikola Jokic (C)
Key Players
Los Angeles Clippers
Paul George (SG/SF): 19 points, 7 rebounds
Kawhi Leonard (SF): 29.9 points, 9.1 rebounds, 5.3 assists
Marcus Morris (SF/PF): 13.3 points, 5.3 rebounds
Denver Nuggets
Jamal Murray (PG/SG): 28.9 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists
Michael Porter (PF): 11.1 points, 6.9 rebounds
Nikola Jokic (C): 25 points, 8.7 rebounds
