No. 5 seed LA Clippers have taken control of the 2025 NBA playoffs first-round series, 2-1, after beating the No. 4 seed Denver Nuggets. It was the first home playoff game for the Clippers at the Intuit Dome.
Kawhi Leonard produced a double-double with 21 points and 11 rebounds after shaking off a slow start in the 117-83 Western Conference Game 3 victory over the Nuggets.
James Harden added 20 points, nine assists and six rebounds in the winning effort for the Clippers while Norman Powell also added 20 points.
Former MVP Nikola Jokic added a team-high 23 for the Nuggets. He also had 13 rebounds and 13 assists. Jamal Murray scored 23 points while former Clipper Russell Westbrook was held to just three points after shooting 1-for-5 from the field (all attempts from the three-point line).
USA TODAY Sports provided updates and highlights from Game 3 between the Nuggets and Clippers:
Final: Clippers 117, Nuggets 83
Clippers vs. Nuggets highlights
Clippers vs. Nuggets third quarter update
The Clippers took a 90-70 lead entering the fourth quarter.
James Harden and Norman Powell each scored 20 points through the first three quarters of play while Kawhi Leonard added 14 points and nine rebounds. Jamal Murray led the Nuggets with 21 points and Nikola Jokić had 17 points and 11 rebounds.
Clippers vs. Nuggets halftime update
After taking its first lead of the game late in the first quarter, the Clippers held on to their lead throughout the first half. The Clippers lead the Nuggets 63-47 at halftime.
James Harden led the Clippers with 20 points, four assists and three rebounds. Aaron Gordon and Jamal Murray each have 13 points for the Nuggets.
James Harden stats
James Harden leads the Clippers with 20 points, nine assists and six rebounds in 34 minutes of play against the Nuggets.
Kawaii Leonard stats
Kawhi Leonard produced a double-double with 21 points, 11 rebounds and six assists in 34 minutes of play for the Clippers.
Clippers vs. Nuggets first quarter update
Aaron Gordon has scored 11 of the Nuggets’ first 20 points with 7:01 left in the first quarter against the Clippers, but was a non-factor for the rest of the quarter.
James Harden led the Clippers with 13 points while Kawhi Leonard was limited to five points in the period.
The Nuggets led the Clippers for the first 10:30 of the quarter before Harden gave L.A. the 29-28 lead. The Clippers pulled away with a 35-28 lead after Harden and Nicolas Batum scored back-to-back three-pointers in the final minute..
Clippers’ starting lineup vs. Nuggets in Game 3
Norman Powell
Kawhi Leonard
Ivica Zubac
Kris Dunn
James Harden
Nuggets’ starting lineup vs. Clippers in Game 3
Michael Porter Jr.
Aaron Gordon
Nikola Jokić
Christian Braun
Jamal Murray
Clippers-only fan section ready to horse around
Members of the Wall, which is the Clippers-only fan section called the Intuit Dome, found a horse mask at their seats to wear before the game. Nuggets star Nikola Jokić is known to have a love and passion for horses and harness racing.
What time is Nuggets vs. Clippers?
Game 3 of the NBA playoff series between the Denver Nuggets and LA Clippers is at 10 p.m. ET on Thursday, April 24.
How to watch Nuggets vs. Clippers: Time, TV, streaming info
Time: 10 p.m. ET
TV: NBA TV
Stream: Fubo
Location: Intuit Dome (Inglewood, CA)
Watch Nuggets vs. Clippers with a free trial of Fubo
Aaron Gordon stats
Aaron Gordon averaged 14.7 points in the regular season, shooting 53.1% from the field and a career-high 43.6% from three in 51 games (42 starts). He also averaged 4.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists. Through two games in the 2025 NBA playoffs, Gordon is averaging 19.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.0 assist.
Michael Porter Jr. will play in Game 3
Porter is officially a go for Game 3. He’s coming off a 15-point, 15-rebound double-double performance in Denver’s Game 2 loss on Monday, following a mere three points in the team’s Game 1 win on Saturday.
Will Michael Porter Jr. play in Game 3?
Michael Porter Jr. is listed as questionable for Game 3 on Thursday due to a left shoulder sprain. Porter suffered the injury during the closing minutes of Denver’s 105-102 loss to the Clippers in Game 2 on Monday. He dove for a loose ball and the Clippers’ Kris Dunn fell on him while attempting to do the same. Following the game, Porter said he “never felt a pain like this” and noted that he suffered a “joint sprain.”
On Wednesday, interim head coach David Adelman said he’s ‘very optimistic’ Porter will suit up on Thursday. ‘I don’t think he gets enough credit for how tough he is and what he’s played through over these years. His pain threshold is something that people don’t understand, don’t get, that he deals with all year long…If Mike can play he will.’
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