Denver Nuggets vs Clippers Match Player Stats

The denver nuggets vs clippers match player stats from the January 30, 2026 meeting at Ball Arena tell a much deeper story than the 122-109 final score alone. Denver defeated Los Angeles by 13 points, but the most important details came from shooting efficiency, Nikola Jokic’s return, Jamal Murray’s playmaking, and Denver’s ability to turn a strong opening quarter into a controlled second half. The official NBA record lists the game as January 30, while the game information also shows January 31 in UTC timing.

Denver entered the game at 32-16 and improved to 33-16 after the victory, while the Clippers fell to 22-25. The Nuggets also moved to 14-9 at home, while Los Angeles dropped to 9-16 on the road. Attendance at Ball Arena was 20,016.

The headline performance belonged to Jokic, who returned from a knee injury and produced 31 points and 12 rebounds in only 24 minutes and 32 seconds according to the official box score. James Harden led Los Angeles with 25 points and nine assists, while Jamal Murray finished with 20 points and nine assists. Tim Hardaway Jr. added 22 points for Denver, and Peyton Watson scored 21.

What makes this game particularly useful for statistical analysis is that Denver did not simply win because one superstar scored more. The Nuggets won through a combination of efficient shooting, rebounding, three-point accuracy, free-throw production, and several complementary scoring performances.

Game Overview

The final score was:

Denver Nuggets 122, Los Angeles Clippers 109

Denver controlled the scoreboard from the opening period, although Los Angeles remained competitive throughout much of the game.

Quarter	Clippers	Nuggets
Q1	27	35
Q2	23	24
Q3	30	33
Q4	29	30
Final	109	122

The first quarter established the basic pattern. Denver scored 35 points and created an eight-point advantage immediately. Los Angeles answered with 30 points in the third quarter and 29 in the fourth, but Denver continued to score efficiently enough to protect its lead.

The official NBA game summary records Denver’s largest lead as 18 points. The game was tied twice, with six lead changes.

That is important because the final 13-point margin does not fully describe how much control Denver had during stretches of the contest.

Denver Nuggets vs Clippers Match Player Stats: Complete Statistical Picture

The most useful way to study this matchup is to separate individual production from team efficiency.

Denver shot 40 of 73 from the field, good for 54.8 percent. The Nuggets made 16 of 28 three-point attempts, or 57.1 percent, and converted 26 of 32 free throws, or 81.3 percent.

Los Angeles made 40 of 86 field-goal attempts, or 46.5 percent. The Clippers shot 14 of 40 from three-point range, or 35 percent, and made 15 of 21 free throws, or 71.4 percent.

Those numbers immediately explain a major part of the result.

Both teams made exactly 40 field goals. Denver nevertheless scored 13 more points because the Nuggets attempted fewer shots and converted them at a considerably higher rate.

Denver also made two more three-pointers despite attempting 12 fewer threes.

That combination is extremely significant.

Team Statistical Comparison

Category	Clippers	Nuggets
Points	109	122
Field Goals	40-86	40-73
Field Goal %	46.5%	54.8%
Three-Pointers	14-40	16-28
Three-Point %	35.0%	57.1%
Free Throws	15-21	26-32
Free-Throw %	71.4%	81.3%
Rebounds	34	43
Assists	29	30
Turnovers	9	12
Steals	7	7
Blocks	3	4

The statistical contrast is especially clear in shooting efficiency and rebounding.

Denver collected nine more rebounds while shooting 8.3 percentage points better from the field. The Nuggets also made 57.1 percent of their threes compared with 35 percent for Los Angeles.

The Clippers did protect the basketball better, committing nine turnovers against Denver’s 12. However, that advantage was not large enough to offset Denver’s shooting and rebounding advantages.

Nikola Jokic’s Return Changed the Game

Jokic’s return was the central storyline before the game, and his production justified the attention.

He finished with:

• 31 points
• 12 rebounds
• 5 assists
• 3 steals
• 8-of-11 field goals
• 2-of-3 three-pointers
• 13-of-17 free throws
• 24:32 of playing time

The official NBA box score confirms those numbers.

The most striking number may be his 8-of-11 shooting.

Jokic did not need a large number of attempts to score 31 points. His 13-of-17 free-throw performance also generated a large portion of his scoring total.

That efficiency matters when evaluating his return because minutes were limited. The Associated Press reported that Jokic had missed 16 games after injuring his left knee and was playing under a minutes restriction. He was limited to 25 minutes, making this one of his shortest appearances of the season.

Despite the restriction, he produced a double-double and became Denver’s leading scorer and rebounder.

His fourth-quarter scoring was particularly important. According to the AP recap carried by the NBA, Jokic scored 11 points during a 3:47 stretch in the fourth quarter, helping Denver expand a five-point lead to 16.

That sequence explains why raw box-score totals do not tell the entire story.

Jokic’s value was not only the 31 points. His presence affected how the Clippers had to defend Denver’s half-court offense, while his rebounding reduced second-chance opportunities for Los Angeles.

James Harden Led the Clippers

Harden was Los Angeles’ leading scorer and primary playmaker.

His final line included:

• 25 points
• 9 assists
• 4 rebounds
• 2 steals
• 1 block
• 7-of-17 field goals
• 4-of-10 three-pointers
• 7-of-8 free throws

The NBA’s official game page identifies Harden as the Clippers’ scoring leader with 25 points and assist leader with nine.

His nine assists demonstrate how much offensive responsibility he carried.

The Clippers also received 21 points from Kawhi Leonard and 18 points from John Collins. Ivica Zubac contributed 13 points and seven rebounds.

The issue for Los Angeles was not simply a lack of scoring from the primary players.

The Clippers scored 109 points.

That is enough to win many NBA games.

The bigger issue was that Denver produced 122 points while doing so with much greater shooting efficiency.

Harden’s 25 points therefore represented strong individual production without translating into the same overall offensive efficiency Denver achieved.

Kawhi Leonard’s Contribution

Leonard scored 21 points in 31 minutes and eight seconds.

His shooting line was:

• 8-of-18 from the field
• 1-of-4 from three
• 4-of-5 from the free-throw line
• 3 rebounds
• 6 assists
• 2 steals

He also finished with a plus-minus of -4.

The six assists are worth highlighting because Leonard was not only functioning as a scorer.

However, his three-point shooting was less effective than Denver’s perimeter production. He made one of four attempts from deep.

The Clippers as a team made 14 three-pointers, but they needed 40 attempts to reach that total.

Denver made 16 threes on only 28 attempts.

That difference is one of the clearest statistical separators in the matchup.

Jamal Murray’s All-Around Impact

Murray’s box score was one of the most efficient performances on the Denver side.

He recorded:

• 20 points
• 9 assists
• 4 rebounds
• 1 steal
• 7-of-10 field goals
• 4-of-5 three-pointers
• 2-of-2 free throws
• +25 plus-minus

The official NBA box score lists his 35 minutes and 52 seconds of playing time and a team-high plus-minus of +25.

His 70 percent field-goal shooting and 80 percent three-point shooting are especially notable.

Murray also matched the team’s leading assist total with nine.

This created an important balance in Denver’s offense. Jokic did not have to create every scoring opportunity himself.

Murray could score efficiently while also creating opportunities for teammates.

That dual role is visible in the final statistics.

Denver had 30 assists on 40 made field goals.

That means 75 percent of the Nuggets’ made baskets were assisted.

Los Angeles had 29 assists on 40 made field goals, or 72.5 percent.

Both teams shared the ball, but Denver combined that passing with better shooting.

Tim Hardaway Jr. Provided a Major Scoring Boost

Hardaway Jr. scored 22 points in 24 minutes and 37 seconds.

His shooting numbers were impressive:

• 6-of-9 from the field
• 5-of-7 from three
• 5-of-5 from the free-throw line
• 2 rebounds
• +10 plus-minus

The five made three-pointers tied him for the game’s most productive individual perimeter shooting performance.

His 5-of-7 shooting from three was particularly valuable because it meant Denver could punish defensive attention directed toward Jokic and Murray.

This is an important detail when interpreting Denver’s offensive success.

Jokic scored 31.

Murray scored 20.

Watson scored 21.

Hardaway Jr. scored 22.

Four Nuggets players therefore reached at least 20 points.

That kind of scoring distribution makes it difficult for an opposing defense to solve the offense by focusing on one player.

Peyton Watson’s Efficient Scoring

Watson finished with 21 points and was Denver’s field-goal attempt leader with 17 attempts.

He made nine of them for 52.9 percent shooting.

His complete line included:

• 21 points
• 4 rebounds
• 3 assists
• 9-of-17 field goals
• 2-of-5 three-pointers
• 1-of-2 free throws
• +22 plus-minus

The 9-of-17 shooting mark made Watson an important complementary scorer.

He did not need to dominate possession to have an impact.

His 35 minutes and 18 seconds also made him one of Denver’s most heavily used players.

Ivica Zubac and the Clippers’ Interior Production

Zubac produced seven rebounds and 13 points in 29 minutes and 41 seconds.

He shot 6-of-10 from the field.

His 60 percent shooting was efficient, but his seven rebounds were not enough to close the overall rebounding gap.

Denver finished with 43 rebounds.

Los Angeles finished with 34.

That nine-rebound difference is substantial.

The Nuggets had 36 defensive rebounds compared with 23 for the Clippers, while Denver recorded seven offensive rebounds against 11 for Los Angeles.

Interestingly, the Clippers actually held the offensive-rebounding advantage.

The major difference came on the defensive glass.

Denver’s 36 defensive rebounds helped end Clippers possessions and limited second opportunities.

Rebounding Was More Important Than the Turnover Battle

One of the easiest mistakes in analyzing this game would be to focus only on turnovers.

Los Angeles committed nine.

Denver committed 12.

At first glance, that appears to give the Clippers an advantage.

But basketball possessions are influenced by several factors, not just turnovers.

Denver’s nine-rebound overall advantage helped compensate for the three additional turnovers.

The Nuggets also shot far more efficiently.

The Clippers attempted 86 field goals.

Denver attempted 73.

Yet both teams made exactly 40 field goals.

That is an extraordinary statistical clue.

Denver needed 13 fewer field-goal attempts to make the same number of baskets.

The difference was efficiency rather than volume.

Three-Point Shooting Created a Major Gap

Three-point shooting may have been the clearest statistical separator.

Denver:

16-of-28, 57.1 percent

Los Angeles:

14-of-40, 35 percent

The Clippers attempted 12 more threes but made only two fewer.

That means Los Angeles used more possessions from beyond the arc without gaining an advantage in made three-pointers.

Denver’s 57.1 percent rate was exceptionally efficient.

Murray made four of five.

Hardaway Jr. made five of seven.

Jokic made two of three.

Watson made two of five.

Several players were therefore contributing to the perimeter attack.

This prevented the Nuggets from becoming dependent on a single outside shooter.

Free Throws Added Another Denver Advantage

Denver also had the stronger free-throw performance.

The Nuggets made 26 of 32 attempts.

The Clippers made 15 of 21.

That created an 11-point difference at the free-throw line.

In a 13-point game, that is a major part of the final margin.

Jokic alone made 13 free throws.

He therefore accounted for half of Denver’s successful free throws.

The Clippers received seven made free throws from Harden, while Leonard added four.

The overall difference was still substantial.

This is why evaluating only field goals would provide an incomplete explanation of the result.

How the Game Developed Quarter by Quarter

First Quarter: Denver Establishes Control

Denver opened with 35 points while Los Angeles scored 27.

The eight-point first-quarter advantage gave Denver an early cushion.

The opening period also showed how Denver could generate efficient offense without requiring Jokic to play heavy minutes.

Second Quarter: Clippers Stay Within Reach

Los Angeles scored 23 points in the second quarter while Denver scored 24.

The one-point difference meant the Clippers did not lose additional ground during the period.

At halftime, however, Denver still held the advantage created in the opening quarter.

Third Quarter: Los Angeles Responds

The Clippers produced their highest-scoring quarter with 30 points.

Denver answered with 33.

That kept the game from becoming a complete runaway.

Los Angeles continued to produce offensively, but the Nuggets were consistently able to answer.

Fourth Quarter: Jokic Takes Over

The fourth quarter became the decisive period.

Denver scored 30 points against Los Angeles’ 29.

The quarter was relatively close statistically, but Denver’s earlier advantage meant the Clippers needed to win the period by a substantial margin to change the result.

Instead, Jokic produced a key scoring burst.

The AP account reported that his 11 points in a 3:47 stretch helped Denver move from a five-point advantage to a 16-point lead.

That sequence effectively settled the contest.

What the Plus-Minus Numbers Tell Us

Plus-minus should never be treated as a complete player evaluation, but it can provide useful context when combined with other statistics.

Denver’s notable plus-minus figures included:

• Jamal Murray: +25
• Peyton Watson: +22
• Tim Hardaway Jr.: +10
• Nikola Jokic: +11
• Jonas Valanciunas: +5
• Bruce Brown: +17

Murray’s +25 was the highest mark in the game.

Watson’s +22 was also significant.

Jokic’s +11 is notable because he produced that number in only 24 minutes and 32 seconds.

For Los Angeles, John Collins finished at -15, while Ivica Zubac finished at -6 and Leonard at -4.

These numbers should be read alongside minutes, role, opponent lineups, and shooting efficiency rather than treated as isolated measures.

Why Denver’s Offensive Balance Mattered

The Nuggets’ scoring distribution is perhaps the most interesting element of the box score.

Four players scored 20 or more:

• Nikola Jokic: 31
• Tim Hardaway Jr.: 22
• Peyton Watson: 21
• Jamal Murray: 20

This gave Denver 94 points from four players.

The Clippers had three players above 18 points:

• James Harden: 25
• Kawhi Leonard: 21
• John Collins: 18

Zubac added 13.

The difference was not simply that Denver had a higher-scoring superstar.

Denver had several players producing at efficient rates at the same time.

That makes the offensive structure harder to defend because the opposing team cannot rely on one matchup to solve the scoring problem.

The Efficiency Story Behind the Score

The final score was 122-109.

But the deeper statistical story can be summarized through four numbers:

54.8 percent

Denver’s field-goal percentage.

57.1 percent

Denver’s three-point percentage.

43

Denver’s rebounds.

26

Denver’s made free throws.

Those figures explain why the Nuggets won even though both teams made 40 field goals.

The Clippers were not dramatically worse in shot-making volume.

They were less efficient.

That distinction is critical when analyzing NBA games.

What the Player Stats Mean for Basketball Analysis

Player statistics are most useful when they are connected to team outcomes.

Jokic’s 31 points matter because he scored efficiently and returned from an extended absence.

Murray’s nine assists matter because Denver generated 30 total assists.

Hardaway Jr.’s five three-pointers matter because Denver finished at 57.1 percent from deep.

Watson’s 21 points matter because Denver had another efficient scoring option.

Harden’s 25 points and nine assists matter because he carried a large part of Los Angeles’ offensive creation.

Zubac’s seven rebounds matter because they show his contribution on the glass, even though Denver won the overall rebounding battle.

This approach provides more information than simply listing who scored the most.

Denver Nuggets vs Clippers Match Player Stats and the Season Series

The January meeting was the second matchup between the teams during the 2025-26 regular season.

Denver had already defeated Los Angeles 130-116 on November 13.

The January result gave Denver a 2-0 advantage in the season series at that point.

The listed third matchup was scheduled for February 20.

The two completed games therefore showed two different scoring margins, with Denver winning the first by 14 points and the second by 13.

The consistency of the margins is notable, but individual game statistics should still be considered separately because roster availability, injuries, minutes, and shooting performance can change from one meeting to another.

What Stands Out Most From the Box Score

Several observations deserve attention.

Denver Did Not Need More Field Goals

Both teams made 40 field goals.

Denver simply needed fewer attempts.

That is a strong indicator of shooting efficiency.

Denver’s Three-Point Accuracy Was Exceptional

The Nuggets made 16 of 28 threes.

That 57.1 percent rate was a major advantage.

Jokic Was Highly Efficient in Limited Minutes

He scored 31 points on only 11 field-goal attempts.

His free-throw volume played a major role in his scoring total.

Murray Combined Scoring and Creation

Murray’s 20 points and nine assists gave Denver another high-level offensive organizer.

Harden Was Productive but Faced a Larger Team Efficiency Gap

Harden’s 25 points and nine assists were strong individual numbers.

The larger issue was Denver’s superior overall shooting efficiency.

Denver Won the Glass

The Nuggets collected 43 rebounds to the Clippers’ 34.

That helped Denver control possessions and reduce second chances for Los Angeles.

A Practical Method for Reading NBA Box Scores

If you are trying to understand a game beyond the final score, a useful process is to examine the statistics in this order.

Step 1: Check the Final Score

This establishes the outcome but does not explain it.

Step 2: Compare Field-Goal Percentage

This shows whether one team was significantly more efficient from the field.

Step 3: Check Three-Point Attempts and Percentage

A team that shoots more threes is not automatically more effective. Look at both volume and conversion rate.

Step 4: Examine Free Throws

Free throws can create a large scoring difference without appearing in traditional field-goal statistics.

Step 5: Compare Rebounds

Rebounding helps explain possession control.

Step 6: Look at Turnovers

Turnovers matter, but they should be considered alongside shooting and rebounding.

Step 7: Study Individual Usage

Look at field-goal attempts, minutes, assists, rebounds, and free throws together.

Step 8: Use Plus-Minus as Supporting Evidence

Plus-minus can add context, but it should not replace the rest of the box score.

This approach makes it easier to understand why a game unfolded the way it did.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who led the Nuggets in scoring against the Clippers?

Nikola Jokic led Denver with 31 points. He also grabbed 12 rebounds and recorded five assists in 24 minutes and 32 seconds.

Who led the Clippers in scoring?

James Harden led Los Angeles with 25 points. He also recorded nine assists and four rebounds.

What was the final score between Denver and the Clippers?

The Denver Nuggets defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 122-109.

How many points did Jamal Murray score?

Jamal Murray scored 20 points and added nine assists and four rebounds. He shot 7-of-10 from the field and 4-of-5 from three-point range.

Which team shot better from three-point range?

Denver shot 57.1 percent from three-point range, making 16 of 28 attempts. The Clippers shot 35 percent, making 14 of 40.

How many rebounds did each team have?

Denver finished with 43 rebounds, while Los Angeles had 34.

Conclusion

The denver nuggets vs clippers match player stats show that Denver’s 122-109 victory was built on efficiency rather than simply shot volume.

Both teams made 40 field goals, but Denver did so on 73 attempts compared with 86 for Los Angeles. The Nuggets also shot 54.8 percent from the field and 57.1 percent from three-point range.

Nikola Jokic’s return was the central individual storyline. He finished with 31 points and 12 rebounds while playing fewer than 25 minutes. His fourth-quarter scoring burst helped Denver turn a competitive game into a comfortable victory.

Jamal Murray provided 20 points and nine assists, while Tim Hardaway Jr. contributed 22 points on 6-of-9 shooting and 5-of-7 from three. Peyton Watson added 21 points. The four players combined for 94 points.

For Los Angeles, James Harden led the way with 25 points and nine assists. Kawhi Leonard added 21 points and six assists, while John Collins scored 18 and Ivica Zubac contributed 13 points and seven rebounds.

The team numbers make the difference even clearer. Denver outrebounded Los Angeles 43-34, made 16 three-pointers compared with 14, and converted 26 free throws compared with 15.

The Clippers did have an advantage in turnovers, committing nine compared with Denver’s 12. That advantage, however, was outweighed by Denver’s shooting efficiency, free-throw production, and rebounding.

For anyone studying an NBA box score, this matchup provides a useful example of why individual statistics should always be connected to team efficiency. A player can post a strong scoring total while the opposing team still wins through superior shooting, ball movement, rebounding, and contributions from multiple players.

The most revealing numbers from this game are therefore not just the 31 points from Jokic or the 25 from Harden. They are the 54.8 percent field-goal rate, 57.1 percent three-point rate, 43 rebounds, and 26 made free throws that helped explain why Denver finished with 122 points.

The denver nuggets vs clippers match player stats ultimately provide a detailed picture of a game in which Denver combined star production with unusually efficient supporting offense.