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The LA Clippers continued their good start to the 2020-21 season with a resounding 121-108 win over the Denver Nuggets where they controlled the game from start to finish. With this win, Kawhi Leonard and co. have officially buried their demons of the past.
After a close first quarter, Ty Lue's men shot the ball exceptionally well to establish a lead and maintained the same throughout to bag an easy win. There were a few positives for the Denver Nuggets as well who tried to get back into the game but just didn't have that X-factor. They're now 0-2 to start the season.
Without further ado, let's look at five key takeaways from this Western Conference affair.
#1 LA Clippers' torch the Denver Nuggets from downtown
The LA Clippers were simply too good from the field today to allow Denver Nuggets any sort of momentum. The ball movement was slick again as Ty Lue's men created good looks off extra passes and pick-and-rolls. Paul George led the way once again with 23 points on 5-of-9 shooting from downtown. He also had nine assists to his name.
The rest of the LA Clippers' roster supported ably too, with the team going 19-of-38 from 3-point range while shooting 55% from the field overall. Nicolas Batum, Serge Ibaka, and Ivica Zubac all had double digits in scoring. Even Patrick Beverley chipped in with two treys.
#2 Jamal Murray catches fire again but LA Clippers pull through
Jamal Murray didn't have a great outing in the Denver Nuggets' season opener against the Sacramento Kings. He struggled through three quarters against the LA Clippers as well. But like we saw in the bubble, Murray just flicked a switch in the fourth and dropped 13 points.
He ended the night with 23 points but that wasn't enough to close down the gap on their opponents. Nikola Jokic also went one rebound shy of a triple-double but struggled down the stretch. The young duo needs to start performing in tandem to bring the Denver Nuggets' campaign back on track.
#3 LA Clippers finally show tenacity down the stretch
For the fourth straight, the LA Clippers held a hefty lead against the Denver Nuggets at halftime with the scoreline reading 72-55 in their favor. We all know how the side from the previous year lost the plot three times from such a position to get knocked out of the playoffs.
This time though, Ty Lue's men were wired better. Having led by as many as 24, the LA Clippers did lose grip as their advantage was reduced to 10 points early on in the fourth. But some clutch plays from the likes of Leonard, Ibaka, and George ensured that they remained ahead to eventually grab the win.
#4 Denver Nuggets struggling defensively to start the season
The Denver Nuggets lost some key names this offseason. Jerami Grant, Miles Plumlee, and Torrey Craig all left the franchise in free agency. The first two provide physicality inside the paint while the latter is a good perimeter defender.
Mike Malone's men simply did not close out their counterparts quickly enough beyond the arc and were bulldozed on many occasions inside the paint. Even Jokic had a tough time guarding Ibaka.
#5 Kawhi Leonard suffers mouth laceration
Kawhi Leonard had another decent outing for LA Clippers tonight. Through 30 minutes of playing time, he managed 21 points, five rebounds, seven assists, and four steals. However, halfway through the fourth quarter, his lower jaw collided with Serge Ibaka's shoulders as the latter went for a rebound.
Kawhi started bleeding profusely and was in a lot of pain. He eventually left for the locker room and did not return to the game. However, coach Ty Lue's post-game comments suggest that he won't have to miss time.
Guess the Lakers players!
