INGLEWOOD, Calif. — When Nikola Jokic scores 55 points, it usually isn’t good for opposing teams. The Clippers allowed Jokic to reach this mark and struggled in the second half against the Denver Nuggets, losing 130-116.
Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue experimented with his lineup, playing youngsters, including Jordan Miller, who notched a career-best 22 points with a keen 3-point hot streak in the second quarter. But it was nowhere near enough as the Clips were outscored 43-22 in the third quarter — allowing Denver to take full control.
The game was the Clippers’ first since learning that newly added Bradley Beal would miss the remainder of the 2025-26 season due to hip surgery. Lue rolled with the same starting lineup as Monday — James Harden, Derrick Jones Jr., John Collins, Kris Dunn and Ivica Zubac.
Rookie Kobe Sanders showed signs of flashes off the bench, but fouled out. Lue emphasized in the postgame press conference that the younger players would be receiving more opportunities going forward.
The Clippers’ seven-game road trip begins with the Dallas Mavericks on Friday. Talk of Troy reporter Kasey Kazliner was at Intuit Dome and analyzed LA’s loss on Unclipped, TOT’s Clippers podcast.