Denver Nuggets vs Clippers match player stats tell the story of a game that could hardly have been closer. The Denver Nuggets visited the LA Clippers on February 19, 2026, and lost 115–114 after a wild final few seconds at Intuit Dome. Bennedict Mathurin exploded for 38 points for Los Angeles, while Nikola Jokić finished with 22 points and 17 rebounds for Denver.
Quick Match Info
| Match Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | Denver Nuggets vs LA Clippers |
| Date | February 19, 2026 |
| Venue | Intuit Dome, Inglewood, California |
| Final Score | Clippers 115, Nuggets 114 |
| Top Scorer | Bennedict Mathurin – 38 points |
| Denver Top Scorer | Nikola Jokić – 22 points |
| Biggest Story | Clippers survived a last-second Denver comeback |
| Denver Record After Game | 35–21 |
| Clippers Record After Game | 27–28 |
The game was played at Intuit Dome and remained competitive almost from beginning to end. Denver entered the night with a stronger season record, but the Clippers found enough scoring from their bench and made the final defensive stand.
Denver Nuggets vs Clippers Match Player Stats
The numbers show how evenly matched these teams were. Both finished with 45 total rebounds, while Denver had 29 assists and Los Angeles had 27.
The biggest differences came from turnovers, free throws, points in the paint, and bench production. Los Angeles committed only 12 turnovers compared with Denver’s 17 and scored 49 bench points compared with Denver’s 29.
Denver Nuggets Player Stats
| Player | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nikola Jokić | 22 | 17 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Jamal Murray | 20 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 1 |
| Bruce Brown | 19 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Cameron Johnson | 18 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Julian Strawther | 18 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Christian Braun | 7 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Jonas Valančiūnas | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Tim Hardaway Jr. | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Spencer Jones | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Denver shot 39-for-86 from the field and made 13 three-pointers. The Nuggets also attempted 31 free throws but converted only 23 of them.
LA Clippers Player Stats
| Player | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bennedict Mathurin | 38 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| Kawhi Leonard | 23 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Derrick Jones Jr. | 22 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| John Collins | 11 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| Brook Lopez | 8 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Nicolas Batum | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Yanic Konan Niederhauser | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Kris Dunn | 2 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 0 |
| Jordan Miller | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
Mathurin was clearly the biggest scoring story. He went 12-for-22 from the field and 12-for-13 at the free-throw line, helping him reach 38 points in his Clippers home debut.
Quarter-by-Quarter Score
| Quarter | Nuggets | Clippers |
|---|---|---|
| First | 24 | 25 |
| Second | 28 | 20 |
| Third | 25 | 33 |
| Fourth | 37 | 37 |
| Final | 114 | 115 |
This table shows just how close the night was. The Clippers won the first quarter by one point, Denver answered strongly in the second, and Los Angeles changed the game with a big third quarter.
Both teams then scored 37 points in the fourth. That meant Denver’s comeback was exciting, but the Clippers had already created just enough room to survive.
Bennedict Mathurin Changed the Game
Bennedict Mathurin was the name that jumped off the stat sheet.
He scored 38 points in 34 minutes. He made 12 of his 22 field-goal attempts, hit two three-pointers, and converted 12 of 13 free throws. He also collected five rebounds, four assists, and three steals.
What made the performance even more interesting was the timing.
Mathurin had recently joined the Clippers from Indiana and this was his home debut for Los Angeles. Instead of needing several games to settle in, he immediately became the team’s most productive scorer on the night.
When Denver made its late push, Mathurin was still involved.
With nine seconds remaining, he made two important free throws that put Los Angeles ahead 115–112. Those points eventually became the winning margin.
Nikola Jokić Still Filled the Stat Sheet
Nikola Jokić did not have one of his biggest scoring nights, but his complete stat line was still impressive.
He finished with 22 points, 17 rebounds and six assists in just over 36 minutes. His 17 rebounds were the most by any player in the game.
Jokić shot 9-for-22 from the field, but he struggled from long distance. He missed all six of his three-point attempts and went 4-for-7 from the free-throw line.
He also committed six turnovers, which mattered in such a close game. When only one point separates the teams, every lost possession can become important.
Still, Jokić nearly helped Denver escape with the win. He scored inside with 46 seconds remaining to tie the game at 107–107 and keep the Nuggets alive.
Jamal Murray Almost Forced Overtime
Jamal Murray’s night ended with one of the most dramatic moments of the entire game.
Murray recorded 20 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. He also had two steals and one blocked shot, giving Denver strong production in several areas.
But everybody watching will probably remember the final second.
With Denver trailing by three, Derrick Jones Jr. fouled Murray on a three-point attempt with only 0.9 seconds remaining.
Murray went to the line needing all three free throws to tie the score.
He made the first.
Then he made the second.
The Nuggets were suddenly only one point behind.
But Murray missed the third attempt. Time expired during the rebound, and the Clippers escaped with the 115–114 victory.
That is basketball at its most dramatic. One free throw can completely change how a game is remembered.
Kawhi Leonard Added 23 Important Points
Mathurin was the leading scorer, but Kawhi Leonard still played a major role.
Leonard scored 23 points while shooting 8-for-18 from the floor. He added four rebounds and three assists.
His three-point shot was not falling. Leonard made only one of his seven attempts from beyond the arc.
However, he continued finding other ways to score, including getting to the free-throw line. He made six of eight free throws.
The performance also continued a long run of 20-point games for Leonard. The NBA game recap noted that this was his 34th consecutive game with at least 20 points.
Derrick Jones Jr. Gave the Clippers Another Scorer
Derrick Jones Jr. may not always be the first Clippers player people expect to score 20-plus points, but he was excellent against Denver.
Jones scored 22 points in 34 minutes. He shot 7-for-15 overall and made six of seven free throws.
His scoring gave Los Angeles something Denver could not easily solve.
If the Nuggets focused too much attention on Leonard or Mathurin, Jones was another player capable of attacking. Having three players score at least 22 points made the Clippers difficult to defend.
His night almost had a painful ending because of the foul on Murray with 0.9 seconds left.
Fortunately for Los Angeles, Murray missed the final free throw.
John Collins Did the Dirty Work
Not every important performance is about scoring.
John Collins scored only 11 points, but his other numbers were extremely useful. He grabbed 12 rebounds, handed out four assists, recorded one steal and blocked three shots.
Those 12 rebounds were the most by any Clippers player.
Against a Denver team with Jokić controlling the glass, Collins’ rebounding mattered. He helped Los Angeles finish even with Denver at 45 total rebounds.
His three blocks also gave the Clippers additional protection near the basket.
Kris Dunn’s Eight Assists Mattered
Kris Dunn scored just two points, yet his stat line shows why points do not tell the entire story.
Dunn finished with eight rebounds, eight assists and two steals. He helped move the ball while giving the Clippers valuable defense and rebounding from the guard position.
A player can affect a game without taking many shots.
Dunn attempted only four field goals, but his eight assists were tied with Jamal Murray for the most by any player in the game.
Denver Had Strong Scoring Balance
The Nuggets did not depend completely on Jokić and Murray.
Bruce Brown scored 19 points off the bench while shooting 6-for-9 from the field. He added five rebounds and six assists.
Cameron Johnson and Julian Strawther each scored 18.
Strawther was especially dangerous from three-point range. He made six of his 10 shots from deep.
That gave Denver five players with at least 18 points: Jokić, Murray, Brown, Johnson and Strawther.
Usually, that kind of balanced scoring gives a team a great chance to win. This time, the Clippers’ bench and free-throw shooting made the difference.
Clippers Bench Made a Huge Difference
One of the biggest numbers in the game was 49–29.
That was the Clippers’ advantage in bench points.
Mathurin was the main reason.
Because he came off the bench, his 38 points completely changed the second-unit battle. Denver received a strong 19-point performance from Bruce Brown, but Los Angeles still finished with 20 more bench points.
Imagine removing those extra 20 points from the game.
It becomes easy to see why Mathurin’s performance was so important.
Turnovers Hurt Denver
Denver finished with 17 turnovers.
The Clippers committed only 12.
Five extra turnovers may not sound huge, but this was a one-point game.
Every turnover can remove a scoring opportunity and sometimes create an easy basket for the opponent. In a match this close, protecting the basketball becomes even more important.
Jokić had six turnovers and Murray had four, meaning Denver’s two main creators combined for 10.
That does not erase all the good things they did, but it helps explain why Denver had difficulty taking full control.
Free Throws Became the Final Story
The free-throw numbers are another key part of the Denver Nuggets vs Clippers match player stats.
Denver went 23-for-31 at the line.
Los Angeles went 25-for-30.
The Clippers therefore made two more free throws despite taking one fewer attempt.
That difference becomes especially interesting when we remember the final score was separated by only one point.
Murray’s last missed free throw naturally receives most of the attention, but Denver had missed seven other free throws earlier in the game.
Basketball games are rarely decided by only one play. The final play is simply the one people remember most.
How Did the Clippers Win?
Los Angeles did several small things better.
The Clippers scored 58 points in the paint compared with Denver’s 50. They also had the stronger bench advantage and committed fewer turnovers.
Their three-point shooting was actually poor. Los Angeles made only eight of 33 attempts from deep, while Denver made 13 of 40.
So the Clippers did not win because they were hotter from long range.
Instead, they attacked inside, got to the free-throw line, protected the ball better, and received a huge 38-point performance from Mathurin.
Sometimes winning is not about dominating every category. It is about doing just enough in the categories that matter most.
Why This Game Was So Entertaining
There were several reasons this matchup was fun to watch.
First, neither team could completely pull away. Denver’s biggest lead was 10, while the Clippers’ biggest lead was only five.
Second, several players were producing at the same time.
Mathurin had 38. Leonard had 23. Jones had 22.
For Denver, Jokić had 22 and 17 rebounds, Murray flirted with a triple-double, and three more Nuggets scored at least 18 points.
Finally, the game stayed alive until the final second.
There is a big difference between watching a game decided by 20 points and one where the final free throw can decide everything. This matchup gave fans the second type.
What the Player Stats Really Tell Us
Looking only at the final score does not explain the full game.
The Denver Nuggets vs Clippers match player stats show two teams succeeding in very different ways.
Denver had more assists and more three-pointers. Jokić dominated the rebounding numbers, while Murray helped create shots for teammates.
Los Angeles, however, had fewer turnovers, better free-throw efficiency, more points in the paint and a much stronger bench scoring total.
That combination proved enough for a one-point victory.
And sometimes that is all basketball requires: one extra point.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Denver Nuggets vs Clippers game?
The LA Clippers defeated the Denver Nuggets 115–114 on February 19, 2026, at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.
Who scored the most points in Nuggets vs Clippers?
Bennedict Mathurin led all players with 38 points for the Clippers. He shot 12-for-22 from the field and 12-for-13 from the free-throw line.
How many points did Nikola Jokić score?
Nikola Jokić scored 22 points. He also collected a game-high 17 rebounds and recorded six assists.
What were Jamal Murray’s stats?
Murray finished with 20 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. He also had two steals and one block.
How many points did Kawhi Leonard score?
Kawhi Leonard scored 23 points and added four rebounds and three assists for Los Angeles.
Why did Denver lose by one point?
Several factors mattered, including Denver’s 17 turnovers, missed free throws and the Clippers’ 49 bench points. The most dramatic moment came when Murray missed the third of three free throws with 0.9 seconds remaining.
How many points did Bennedict Mathurin score?
Mathurin scored 38 points, tying his career high according to the NBA’s game coverage. His scoring was especially important because he came off the Clippers bench.
What was the fourth-quarter score?
Both Denver and Los Angeles scored 37 points in the fourth quarter. The Clippers’ one-point advantage from the first three quarters therefore became the final difference.
Final Thoughts
The Denver Nuggets vs Clippers match player stats explain why this game was much more than a simple 115–114 result. Mathurin delivered 38 points, Leonard and Jones provided more scoring, and the Clippers’ bench gave them a major boost.
Denver received big performances from Jokić, Murray, Brown, Johnson and Strawther, yet small mistakes became costly. A few extra turnovers and missed free throws were enough to turn a possible Denver win into a one-point Clippers victory.
And then came the final moment.
Murray stood at the line with 0.9 seconds remaining and a chance to send the game to overtime. Two shots went in. The third did not.
That single miss gave an already exciting game an unforgettable finish.
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