Jokic, Millsap lead Nuggets past Clippers 123-96

The Denver Nuggets breezed past the cold-shooting Los Angeles Clippers 123-96 Sunday behind Nikola Jokic and Paul Millsap for their fourth consecutive victory.

Jokic had 22 points and 16 rebounds, and Millsap had 21 points and 16 boards, doing much of his damage after Jokic took a seat two minutes into the third quarter with his fourth foul.

Their combined 43 points and 32 rebounds helped the Nuggets improve to 26-4 at home and pull within a game of the Western Conference-leading Golden State Warriors.

Los Angeles Clippers guard Landry Shamet, right, shoots for a basket over Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic in the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Feb. 24, 2019, in Denver. (AP PhotoDavid Zalubowski)

At 41-18, the Nuggets are also three games ahead of the third-place Oklahoma City Thunder, who visit Denver on Tuesday night.

Lou Williams scored 24 and Danilo Gallinari had 19 for the Clippers, who couldn't capitalize on Denver's uncharacteristic 22 turnovers and 12 missed free throws because they were ice cold themselves.

The Clippers made just 3 of 24 3-pointers.

Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac, left, drives to the rim as Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic defends in the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Feb. 24, 2019, in Denver. (AP PhotoDavid Zalubowski)

The Clippers came out cold from the opening tip, falling behind 12-2, and again after halftime, spotting the Nuggets a 10-0 run that made it 74-56 before Gallinari's bucket at the 8:03 mark.

During Denver's big third-quarter run, Mason Plumlee found himself unguarded at the top of the key and banked a 3-pointer, just his second of the season, triggering a timeout by the Clippers.

Gary Harris, who returned Friday after missing seven games with a right adductor strain, came off the bench and scored 14 points in 22 minutes.

Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers heads to the bench in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets, Sunday, Feb. 24, 2019, in Denver. (AP PhotoDavid Zalubowski)

The Clippers managed to tie it at 45 in the second quarter, but never could go ahead.

After a pair of free throws by Jokic put Denver back ahead 47-45, Gallinari missed a 3-pointer that would have given the Clippers their first lead. Will Barton sank a 3-pointer and Gallinari turned it over, leading to Jamal Murray's 3-pointer. And, just like that, it was 53-45.

TIP-INS

Clippers: Los Angeles missed all 12 of its 3-point attempts in the first half and was 0 for 14 by the time they finally made one — Lou Williams' 3 made at the 6:11 mark of the third quarter cut Denver's lead to 80-64. ... The Clippers lost the season series 3-1.

Nuggets: Jokic missed a layup with 11 seconds left in the second half and felt a foul should have been called. He stepped in front of official Courtney Kirkland on his way back downcourt and then pleaded his case again, well after the halftime buzzer. He continued jawing with Kirkland in the second half after his reach-around foul, his fourth, sent him to the bench just two minutes into the second half.

UP NEXT

Clippers: Host Dallas Mavericks on Monday night.

Nuggets: Host Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night.

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ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Paolo Banchero had 31 points and 14 rebounds, Jalen Suggs added 24 points and the Orlando Magic handed Cleveland the worst playoff loss in franchise history, winning 121-83 on Thursday night to cut the Cavaliers’ lead to 2-1 in their Eastern Conference first-round series.

Franz Wagner finished with 16 points and eight assists for the Magic, who led by 43 points in the fourth quarter on the way to the third-largest margin of victory in a playoff game. They earned their first playoff victory since 2019 and the first on their home floor since April 26, 2011.

They can even the series with a victory at home Sunday.

Jarrett Allen had 15 points and eight rebounds for the Cavaliers, who shot 39% from the field and 23.5% from 3-point range. Caris LeVert added 15 points and Donovan Mitchell had 13 points and seven assists.

76ERS 125, KNICKS 114

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid scored 50 points, making all four 3-point attempts and scoring 18 in a potential series-shifting third quarter to lead Philadelphia to a win over New York in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference first-round series.

Embiid boldly stated “we’re going to win this series” after the 76ers dropped Game 2.

With one of the finest postseason efforts of his career, Embiid became the third player to ever score 50 points against the Knicks in the postseason and kept the hope of a Philadelphia series comeback very much alive.

The Knicks lead the series 2-1. Game 4 is Sunday in Philadelphia.

Embiid was 13 of 19 from the floor overall, made 19 of 21 free throws and hit five 3-pointers.

NUGGETS 112, LAKERS 105

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Aaron Gordon had 29 points and 15 rebounds, Nikola Jokic added 24 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists, and Denver moved to the brink of the second round with a victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of their first-round series..

Jamal Murray scored 22 points as the defending NBA champion Nuggets won their 11th consecutive meeting with LeBron James and the Lakers in dominating style.

Michael Porter Jr. added 20 points for Denver, which took control in the third quarter and cruised through the final minutes to its fifth straight road win over Los Angeles, starting with its sweep of last season’s Western Conference finals.

Game 4 is Saturday night in Los Angeles. No NBA team has ever rallied from an 0-3 playoff deficit.

Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony (50) makes a shot as he gets past Cleveland Cavaliers guard Sam Merrill (5) during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)