Nuggets Seek Sixth Straight Win Against Injury-Plagued Clippers

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — The Denver Nuggets are on a roll, having secured five consecutive victories and boasting an 8-2 record for the season. They face a significant challenge tonight as they take on the Los Angeles Clippers at 8:30 p.m. MT, just one day after a win against the Sacramento Kings.

Head coach David Adelman acknowledges the obstacles of playing back-to-back games, especially on the road. “It’s exactly that; it’s just the road. It’s the intensity of the crowd that is working against you as opposed to what it was this whole last week (at home),” he said.

The Nuggets hope to maintain their winning streak against a struggling Clippers team. Los Angeles has dropped five straight games, worsened by the absence of key players Kawhi Leonard and Bradley Beal due to injuries. Leonard has missed the last four games, and the Clippers are currently 0-4 in that stretch.

With Leonard’s statistics this season including an impressive average of 24.3 points and 5.7 rebounds per game, his absence has left a significant gap in the lineup. “The Clippers are the Clippers, and they need a win. It’s crazy teams like L.A. are under .500 and you look at what they have and what they can do nightly,” Adelman noted.

Despite Beal’s less impactful presence, he has also been ruled out for this game, marking his fifth absence this season. Coach Tyronn Lue confirmed that Beal is set to miss multiple games while they await Leonard’s return. The Clippers need to find consistency to turn their season around, especially against a dominant Nuggets roster.

Nikola Jokic shines for Denver, having scored 35 points in their last game against Sacramento, contributing significantly to the Nuggets’ success. Aaron Gordon and Jamal Murray also provided essential support, scoring 17 and 23 points, respectively. The team shot a remarkable 61.1% in the fourth quarter of that game.

The Clippers will look to pivot their strategy, relying heavily on James Harden, who scored 35 points in their last loss against the Atlanta Hawks. “Just our attention to detail (has) got to be a little bit better,” said Harden regarding the team’s performance. “It hasn’t been our strong suit, so we just got to find ways to continue getting better at that.”

Tonight’s game presents a unique opportunity for the Clippers to shift their momentum despite their star players being sidelined. The short-handed Clippers will host the red-hot Nuggets at the Kia Forum, aiming to grab their first win in six games.