Harden, Powell help Clippers overcome Jokic's 41 points to beat Nuggets 109-104

DENVER (AP) — James Harden had 23 points and 16 assists, Norman Powell scored 26 of his 37 points in the second half and the Los Angeles Clippers overcame Nikola Jokic's 41 points to beat the Denver Nuggets 109-104 on Saturday.

Jokic made a career-high seven 3-pointers but missed a free throw with 20 seconds left that would have tied the game. Harden made four from the line in the final 30.5 seconds.

The Clippers trailed 103-100 when Powell hit a 3-pointer. Jamal Murray, who had 22 points, missed a layup and Harden then made two free throws.

After Jokic split a pair from the line, Harden made two more foul shots to make it 107-104 and Jokic missed an off-balance 3-pointer.

Clippers: Harden missed a free throw in the opening loss to Phoenix on Wednesday but was 12 of 13 from the line on Saturday. Several of his 16 assists were to Ivica Zubac, who had 24 points and 15 rebounds.

Nuggets: The offense was better but the bench was 3 of 18 from the field. Only Julian Swather hit a field goal for that unit.

Jokic presented Colorado star Nathan MacKinnon with his MVP trophy in the Avalanche’s home opener two weeks ago, and MacKinnon returned the favor before Saturday’s tip. He brought out the Michael Jordan Trophy while wearing a Jokic jersey and gave the three-time MVP a hug.

Denver hit just 7 of 38 shots from 3-point range in Thursday’s loss to Oklahoma City and started Saturday missing 11 of 13. The Nuggets made 12 of their next 20 from deep but missed their final two attempts.

The Clippers travel to Golden State on Sunday night while the Nuggets begin a three-game road trip at Toronto on Monday night.

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Los Angeles Clippers forward Nicolas Batum (33) blocks a shot against Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook (4) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Los Angeles Clippers guard Kris Dunn celebrates a three-point basket against the Denver Nuggets during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) shoots a 3-point basket over Los Angeles Clippers guard Terance Mann (14) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Denver Nuggets guard Christian Braun (0) drives to the basket past Los Angeles Clippers forward Nicolas Batum (33) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone reacts during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Los Angeles Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue reacts during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Los Angeles Clippers forward Nicolas Batum (33) and Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) reach for a loose ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Colorado Avalanche players Nathan MacKinnon, left, and Gabriel Landeskog attend the first half of an NBA basketball game between the Denver Nuggets and the Los Angeles Clippers, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Los Angeles Clippers forward Nicolas Batum (33) fouls Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook (4) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Denver Nuggets guard Christian Braun (0) blocks a shot by Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden (1) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

A Ukrainian drone strike killed one person and wounded three others in the Russian city of Voronezh, local officials said Sunday.

A young woman died overnight in a hospital intensive care unit after debris from a drone fell on a house during the attack on Saturday, regional Gov. Alexander Gusev said on Telegram.

Three other people were wounded and more than 10 apartment buildings, private houses and a high school were damaged, he said, adding that air defenses shot down 17 drones over Voronezh. The city is home to just over 1 million people and lies some 250 kilometers (155 miles) from the Ukrainian border.

The attack came the day after Russia bombarded Ukraine with hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles overnight into Friday, killing at least four people in the capital Kyiv, according to Ukrainian officials.

For only the second time in the nearly four-year war, Russia used a powerful new hypersonic missile that struck western Ukraine in a clear warning to Kyiv and NATO.

The intense barrage and the launch of the nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile followed reports of major progress in talks between Ukraine and its allies on how to defend the country from further aggression by Moscow if a U.S.-led peace deal is struck.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Saturday in his nightly address that Ukrainian negotiators “continue to communicate with the American side.”

Chief negotiator Rustem Umerov was in contact with U.S. partners Saturday, he said.

Separately, Ukraine’s General Staff said Russia targeted Ukraine with 154 drones overnight into Sunday and 125 were shot down.

Follow the AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

This photo provided by the Ukrainian Security Service on Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, shows a fragment believed to be a part of a Russian Oreshnik intermediate range hypersonic ballistic missile that hit the Lviv region. (Ukrainian Security Service via AP)

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, second left, listens to British Defense Secretary John Healey during their meeting in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Danylo Antoniuk)