The Los Angeles Clippers came into Game 3 with a mission — and they left no doubt about it.
In a dominant display on both ends of the floor, the Clippers rolled past the Denver Nuggets, securing a convincing 121-95 victory to take a 2-1 series lead. From the opening tip, L.A. played with a level of urgency and focus that the Nuggets simply couldn’t match.
Kawhi Leonard set the tone early, scoring 12 points in the first quarter while locking up defensively. Every possession felt deliberate, every rotation crisp. The Clippers swarmed Denver’s shooters, clogged the passing lanes, and forced Nikola Jokić into one of his roughest playoff performances to date.
“That’s who we are when we’re locked in,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said after the game. “Defense first. Energy first. Everything else flows from that.”
The Clippers’ defense was suffocating. They held the Nuggets to just 41% shooting from the field and a dismal 28% from three-point range. Jokić finished with 18 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 turnovers — numbers that don’t tell the full story of how uncomfortable he looked all night.
Meanwhile, Paul George had one of his best games of the postseason, pouring in 27 points on efficient shooting, including 5-of-9 from downtown. When George is playing like that — confident, decisive, and aggressive — the Clippers reach another gear.
“We just played fast, we played free,” George said. “We kept the pressure on them and didn’t let up.”
And they really didn’t.
The Clippers led by 20 midway through the second quarter and never looked back. Russell Westbrook’s energy was infectious off the bench, pushing the tempo and diving for loose balls. Norman Powell added 18 points in a classic microwave scoring performance, helping stretch the lead to nearly 30 by the start of the fourth quarter.
Denver, on the other hand, looked flat. Jamal Murray, who had been brilliant in Game 2, struggled to find any rhythm, finishing with just 13 points on 5-of-14 shooting. Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Jr. combined for only 16 points total — nowhere near enough to keep pace.
“They punched us in the mouth, and we never really responded,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said bluntly. “Credit to them. They played harder, they played smarter, they deserved to win.”
One of the biggest storylines was the Clippers’ physicality. They dominated the boards 49-38, crashed the paint relentlessly, and made every Denver possession a battle. Whenever the Nuggets tried to string together a few good plays, L.A. answered with an emphatic dunk, a momentum-killing three, or a lockdown defensive stand.
This wasn’t just a win for the Clippers — it was a message.
After an up-and-down regular season and questions about their playoff readiness, especially with injuries in the mix, the Clippers are starting to look like a team that could seriously contend for the Western Conference crown. Their stars are clicking, their role players are stepping up, and their defense is starting to suffocate opponents in ways that championship teams are known for.
Now, the series shifts to a crucial Game 4, with the Nuggets desperately needing a response.
For Denver, it’s back to basics: better ball movement, more energy, and finding ways to free up Jokić and Murray from the Clippers’ swarming coverage. If they don’t, this series could start slipping away fast.
For the Clippers, it’s about keeping their foot on the gas.
“We know it’s not over,” Kawhi said. “We gotta keep pushing. One game at a time.”
But if Game 3 was any indication, the Clippers have found something — and the Nuggets better find an answer quick.
