Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, left, drives to the basket as Clippers center Ivica Zubac, back right, and forward Nicolas Batum (33) defend during the first half on Friday night in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Clippers center Ivica Zubac, left, looks to pass the ball as Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic defends in the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Clippers guard Norman Powell, left, fouls Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon as he goes up for a basket in the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue directs his team against the Denver Nuggets in the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets guard Christian Braun, left, looks to pass the ball as Clippers guard Kris Dunn defends in the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Clippers center Ivica Zubac, left, battles for control of a loose ball with Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon in the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Clippers guard Kevin Porter Jr., left, passes the ball as Denver Nuggets forward Peyton Watson, right, defends in the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, left, looks to pass the ball as Clippers center Ivica Zubac and guard James Harden, right, defend in the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Clippers guard Jordan Miller, right, drives to the basket as Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr., left, defends in the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone looks on in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Clippers, Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon, right, drives to the basket as Clippers guard James Harden defends in the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Clippers guard James Harden handles the ball as Denver Nuggets guard Christian Braun defends during the first half on Friday night in Denver. Harden had 15 points but nine turnovers in a 120-98 loss. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon, front, drives to the basket as Clippers center Ivica Zubac, back left, and guard James Harden defend in the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Clippers guard Kris Dunn gestures after hitting a 3-point shot against the Denver Nuggets in the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, left, knocks the ball away from Clippers center Ivica Zubac, right, in the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, left, looks to pass the ball as Clippers center Ivica Zubac, right, defends in the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, second from left, drives to the basket as, from left to right, Clippers guard James Harden, center Ivica Zubac and guard Kris Dunn defend in the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, back left, argues for a call with referee Sha’Rae Mitchell, front left, as Clippers guard Norman Powell, right, walks past in the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Clippers guard Norman Powell, right, drives to the basket as Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray defends in the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, left, looks to pass the ball as Clippers center Ivica Zubac, right, defends in the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Clippers center Ivica Zubac, front, goes up for a shot as Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon defends in the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook, left, drives past Clippers guard Jordan Miller, right, in the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook gestures to the crowd in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Clippers, Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Clippers guard Kevin Porter Jr. drops back to defend in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets guard Julian Strawther, left, hangs on the rim after dunking the ball for a basket as Clippers guard James Harden, front right, and guard Bones Hyland look on in the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Clippers guard Kevin Porter Jr., right, drives to the basket as Denver Nuggets guard Julian Strawther defends in the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, front, looks to drive to the rim as Clippers guard Bones Hyland defends in the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Clippers guard Kevin Porter Jr., left, drives past Denver Nuggets forward Peyton Watson in the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets forward Hunter Tyson, left, drives past Clippers guard Jordan Miller, right, in the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Clippers guard Kevin Porter Jr., front right, drives past Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. (1) in the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook, left, steals the ball from Clippers guard Jordan Miller as he drives the lane in the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
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Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, left, drives to the basket as Clippers center Ivica Zubac, back right, and forward Nicolas Batum (33) defend during the first half on Friday night in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
DENVER — The Clippers’ bid for a third straight victory over the Denver Nuggets fizzled with a lopsided loss.
Jamal Murray scored a game-high 20 points in his return from a hamstring injury and the Nuggets beat the Clippers, 120-98, on Friday night despite a quiet game from Nikola Jokic.
Michael Porter Jr. added 17 points as the Nuggets (13-10) won consecutive games for the first time in a month and beat the Clippers for the first time in three tries this season.
It was the second of three games between the teams in Denver this season in a contest that was added to the schedule after NBA Cup group play was completed.
Jokic, who scored 56 and 48 points in the last two games, had a season-low two assists and tied season lows with 16 points and seven rebounds.
James Harden had 15 points and nine turnovers for the Clippers (14-12), who turned it over 19 times in their third consecutive loss. Norman Powell and Kevin Porter Jr. each scored 16 points, and Ivica Zubac added 13 points with 13 rebounds.
Powell had averaged 32.6 points and made 63.2% of his 3-point attempts in the first two games against Denver this season, but he shot 3 for 10 from behind the arc.
The Clippers scored 18 straight points in the second quarter to turn a 12-point deficit into a five-point lead. Denver missed eight shots and had 10 turnovers in nearly six minutes when the Clippers went on their run.
The Clippers held a 55-50 lead early in the second half before the Nuggets moved back in front 59-58 less than five minutes into the third quarter. Denver took charge from there while going on a 14-2 run to take a 73-60 lead.
Michael Porter Jr. scored 10 of his 17 points in the third quarter.
The Nuggets took their first 20-point lead at 98-78 with 7:44 remaining after two free throws from Peyton Watson and cruised to the victory from there.
Denver held an opponent below 100 points for the first time since April 9, as Nuggets coach Michael Malone was able to play Jokic less than 30 minutes and sit him out for the entire fourth quarter.
Russell Westbrook had five points and five assists in 24 minutes off the bench against his former team.
UP NEXT
The Clippers host the Utah Jazz on Monday at 7:30 p.m., before a three-game road trip to Dallas (two games) and Memphis.
