INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Bennedict Mathurin scored 38 points in his home debut for Los Angeles and the Clippers held off the Denver Nuggets 115-114 on Thursday night.
Denver’s Jamal Murray had a chance to tie it on three free throws with 0.9 seconds remaining after a foul from Derrick Jones Jr. Murray made the first two before missing the third, with time expiring on the rebound.
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Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) drives to the basket as Denver Nuggets forward Spencer Jones (21) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Los Angeles Clippers forward Derrick Jones Jr., left, and center Brook Lopez, back right, defend against Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, front right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) drives to the basket as Los Angeles Clippers center Yanic Konan Niederhauser (14) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Los Angeles Clippers guard Bennedict Mathurin (9) dunks past Denver Nuggets guard Tim Hardaway Jr. (10) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Los Angeles Clippers guard Bennedict Mathurin (9) shoots over Denver Nuggets forward Spencer Jones (21) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Kawhi Leonard added 23 points, and Jones had 22 to help the Clippers improve to 21-7 since Dec. 20. Both teams were coming off the All-Star break.
Mathurin, acquired from Indiana at the trade deadline, was 12 of 22 from the field, while Leonard went 8 of 18 and scored at least 20 points for the 34th consecutive game.
Nikloa Jokic had 22 points and 17 rebounds for Denver. Murray scored 20 points, Bruce Brown had 19, and Cam Johnson and Julian Strawther added 18 each.
Denver was without Aaron Gordon (hamstring) for the 10th consecutive game, while Peyton Watson (hamstring) has missed the past four.
Tempers flared with 10:27 remaining when the Clippers’ Yanic Konan Niederhauser, Kris Dunn and Mathurin tangled with the Nuggets’ Jonas Valanciunas under the Denver basket following a free throw.
Dunn, Mathurin and Valanciunas all received technical fouls, with Denver making one technical free throw for an 83-83 tie.
The Nuggets tied in 107-107 with 46 seconds remaining on a shot inside from Jokic. The Clippers went up 115-112 with nine seconds left on two free throws from Mathurin.
Nuggets: At Portland on Friday night.
Clippers: At Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) drives to the basket as Denver Nuggets forward Spencer Jones (21) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Los Angeles Clippers forward Derrick Jones Jr., left, and center Brook Lopez, back right, defend against Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, front right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) drives to the basket as Los Angeles Clippers center Yanic Konan Niederhauser (14) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Los Angeles Clippers guard Bennedict Mathurin (9) dunks past Denver Nuggets guard Tim Hardaway Jr. (10) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Los Angeles Clippers guard Bennedict Mathurin (9) shoots over Denver Nuggets forward Spencer Jones (21) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
