Nuggets lead wire-to-wire, top Clippers to tie series at 1

Jamal Murray scored 27 points, Nikola Jokic had 26 points and 18 rebounds and Denver Nuggets never trailed on way to beating Los Angeles Clippers 110-101 in Game 2 of Western Conference semifinal series Saturday night.

Gary Harris and Paul Millsap each added 13 points to help Denver kt series at a game apiece.

Paul George scored 22 points for Clippers, who got 15 from Ivica Zubac and endured a rare off night offensively from Kawhi Leonard. two-time NBA Finals MVP had 13 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, but shot only 4 for 17.

Leonard had scored at least 20 points in 27 of his last 28 playoff games — and had at least 29 in all seven playoff games this season.

Clippers trailed by 23 and got as close as five in fourth quarter, but closer. Murray and Harris made 3-pointers on consecutive possessions down stretch to help keep Nuggets on top, and Patrick Beverley getting ejected with a pair of technicals with 1:04 left helped seal matters.

Murray made two free throws for technicals, Grant added ar for a personal that was called and lead was 11. George dribbled ball off his knee on next Clippers’ possession and outcome was academic from re.

Denver set tone from outset, starting off on a 14-2 run and eventually going up 44-23 before first quarter was even complete. Jokic and Murray outscored Clippers by mselves in opening 12 minutes, 26-25.

It was 72-56 at half, Clippers’ third-largest intermission deficit of season.

Clippers just couldn’t string eugh points toger at eugh key times.

A big stretch came in third quarter when Leonard got fouled and went to line with a chance to get Clippers within 11. He missed both free throws, Murray made a jumper on next Denver possession, Millsap scored about a minute later and just like that Denver’s lead was up to 83-66.

Clippers' best run eventually came in fourth, with George going on a personal 7-0 spurt to get Clippers within 91-86 — smallest lead for Nuggets since it was 7-2.

Denver immediately responded with 10-0 run, pushing lead back out to 15 on a pair of free throws by Jerami Grant with 5:22 left.

TIP-INS

Nuggets: Denver matched a season-best for any quarter with 44 points in first. It was second-best scoring quarter in Nuggets’ NBA playoff history, after scoring 47 in fourth against Los Angeles Lakers on May 14, 1985. ... Denver outscored Clippers 45-27 on 3-pointers.

Clippers: 23-point deficit was Clippers’ largest in bubble (21 vs. Brooklyn on Aug. 9) and biggest this season since facing a 28-point deficit against Minnesota on Feb. 8. ... 44 first-quarter points allowed were fourth-most by Clippers in any period this season. y allowed 45 three times and won two of those games.

RISING NUGGETS

History, of course, says an 0-2 hole would have been very difficult for Denver. Nuggets have never rallied from 0-2 down in a best-of-seven in ir NBA history; y’ve won one of 13 series in NBA after losing first two games, and that was best-of-five upset of top-seeded Seattle in 1994 first round. y’ve won six of 19 previous series that were tied 1-1.

FAMILIAR TERRITORY

This is ninth postseason series in which Doc Rivers has coached Clippers. Clippers have split first two games in eight of those nine matchups.

UP NEXT

Game 3 is Monday.

Im credits: AP