Kavi Leonard scored 39 points on the shooting of 15 -19, as Los Angeles Clippers defeated Denver Nuggets 105–102 on Monday to level the first round playoff series of their western conference with a win.
Denver’s Christian Braun and Nicola Jokik recalled 3-point efforts to end the game. Joke wound with a triple-dabble.
James Harden added 18 points, Evika Zuback contributed 16 points and 12 rebounds and Norman Powell scored 13 points for Los Angeles.
“Tough fight,” Leonard said postgame on TNT. “This is what is about the playoffs.”
The best seven series turn to California for Game 3 on Thursday in English.
Leonard on Saturday bounced back from a seven-turnover performance to the opener, 112–110 Denver won in overtime. He hit his first six shots on Monday, missed a bridge -up jumper in the second quarter and did not remember again until the fourth beginning.
He scored 12 points in the last period and finished the game with just one turnover.
Danver Game 2 had a turnover team. The Nugets ended with 20 – matched the total of clippers from Saturday. Jokik on Monday had seven givway to go with his 26 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assistance.
Michael Porter Junior, held for three points in Game 1, ended with 15 points for Denver and 15 rebounds. Jamal Murray scored 23 points, and Russell Westbrook and Aaron Gordon ended with 14 Apties.
Los Angeles used 9–2 runs for the beginning of 87–81 in the fourth, but Nugets responded to retake the lead. Cleepers left a Powell floating jump shot with four to 5:16.
Jokik divided a pair of free throw and Porter hit a 3-pointer from a turnover before Porter left a Go-furward free throw (but missed the other) with 3:31.
Juback’s Leup and Leonard’s 10-foot jumper died and Powell gave a 100–97 lead to the clippers before doing 3-pointeers trading, leading to Los Angeles to overtaken 103–100 to 1:30 to 103-100. Jokik’s two free throw with 1:16 cut the deficit, before Leonard hit another jumper with 54.1 seconds left.
Leonard stole Jokik’s pass but Harden missed at the other end, but two shots of the nuggets failed for the tie.
Things became hot with the remaining 5:18 in the third quarter. Murray was called for a dishonesty when he caught Powell around the waist. Powell reacted with a swipe in the dead, and both teams and coach came out to try to reduce the position.
Chris Dunn of Braun, Powell and Los Angeles was given technical dishonesty.
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