Denver Nuggets vs LA Clippers Match Player Stats

The denver nuggets vs la clippers match player stats from January 31, 2026, show why Denver controlled this game from the opening quarter. The Nuggets defeated the LA Clippers 122-109 at Ball Arena in Denver, using superior shooting efficiency, rebounding, and a highly productive performance from Nikola Jokic. Denver shot 55% from the field and 57% from three point range, while the Clippers finished at 47% overall and 35% from beyond the arc.

The final score does not tell the entire story. Denver established a 35-27 lead after the first quarter, extended it to 59-50 at halftime, and then maintained enough offensive pressure to prevent a Clippers comeback. Jokic led all scorers with 31 points and added 12 rebounds and 5 assists, while Jamal Murray contributed 20 points and 9 assists. Peyton Watson also delivered an efficient 21-point performance.

For Los Angeles, James Harden led the way with 25 points and 9 assists, while Kawhi Leonard scored 21 points and added 6 assists. John Collins contributed 18 points, and Ivica Zubac finished with 13 points and 7 rebounds.

This article breaks down the individual performances, team statistics, shooting efficiency, quarter-by-quarter progression, and the numbers that explain how Denver secured the 122-109 victory.

Denver Nuggets vs LA Clippers Match Player Stats: Game Overview

The January 31, 2026 matchup took place at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. The Nuggets entered the contest with a 33-16 record and a 14-9 home record, while the Clippers were 22-25 overall and 9-16 on the road.

Denver eventually won by 13 points.

Category	LA Clippers	Denver Nuggets
Final Score	109	122
Field Goals	40-86	40-73
Field Goal %	47%	55%
Three Pointers	14-40	16-28
Three Point %	35%	57%
Free Throws	15-21	26-32
Free Throw %	71%	81%
Rebounds	34	43
Assists	29	30
Turnovers	9	12
Steals	7	7
Blocks	3	4

One of the most interesting aspects of the game is that the Clippers actually protected the ball better, committing only 9 turnovers compared with Denver’s 12.

That advantage, however, was outweighed by Denver’s efficiency.

The Nuggets made the same number of field goals as Los Angeles, 40, but they needed only 73 attempts to do it. The Clippers required 86 attempts.

That difference is central to understanding the game.

How Denver Built Its 122-109 Victory

Denver’s victory was based on several connected advantages rather than one isolated statistic.

Superior Field Goal Efficiency

The Nuggets shot 55% from the field compared with 47% for Los Angeles.

Both teams made 40 field goals, but Denver’s 13 fewer attempts show how efficiently the home team converted its opportunities.

The Nuggets also made 16 of 28 three point attempts.

That is an outstanding 57% from long range.

The Clippers made 14 of 40 three pointers, producing a 35% conversion rate.

The difference was only two made threes, but Denver needed significantly fewer attempts to reach that total.

Stronger Three Point Conversion

Three point shooting created a major efficiency gap.

Denver:

• 16 made three pointers
• 28 attempts
• 57% shooting

Los Angeles:

• 14 made three pointers
• 40 attempts
• 35% shooting

The Nuggets therefore converted 57.1% of their three point attempts, while the Clippers converted 35%.

This matters because a team can compensate for a lower number of shot attempts by making a greater percentage of higher-value shots. Denver did exactly that.

Rebounding Advantage

Denver collected 43 rebounds compared with 34 for Los Angeles.

That is a nine-rebound advantage.

Nikola Jokic was particularly important here, collecting 12 rebounds by himself.

Ivica Zubac led the Clippers with 7 rebounds, while John Collins added 6.

The overall rebounding difference gave Denver more control over possessions and helped reduce the impact of the Clippers’ superior turnover numbers.

Free Throw Advantage

Denver also had more opportunities at the free throw line.

The Nuggets went 26-for-32, an 81% conversion rate.

Los Angeles went 15-for-21, shooting 71%.

That created an 11-point difference in made free throws.

In a 13-point game, that is a significant statistical component of the final margin.

Nikola Jokic’s 31-Point Performance

Nikola Jokic was the central figure in the Nuggets’ offensive performance.

He finished with:

• 31 points
• 12 rebounds
• 5 assists
• 3 steals
• 8-for-11 field goals
• 2-for-3 three pointers
• 13-for-17 free throws

Jokic’s 8-for-11 shooting from the field equates to approximately 73% shooting.

He also contributed from outside, making 2 of his 3 three point attempts.

His 13 made free throws were another major part of his scoring total.

Why Jokic’s Efficiency Stood Out

Thirty-one points alone are impressive, but the efficiency behind the number makes the performance more notable.

Jokic needed only 11 field goal attempts to make 8 shots.

He also contributed 12 rebounds and 5 assists, meaning his impact extended beyond scoring.

His three steals added another defensive dimension.

For this particular game, the statistical profile was that of a player contributing across several areas simultaneously.

Jamal Murray’s Playmaking Impact

Jamal Murray scored 20 points and was also Denver’s leading assister.

His final line included:

• 20 points
• 4 rebounds
• 9 assists
• 7-for-10 field goals
• 4-for-5 three pointers
• 2-for-2 free throws

Murray’s shooting from three point range was particularly effective.

He made 4 of 5 attempts, or 80%.

That was an important contribution to Denver’s 57% team three point shooting.

His 9 assists also showed how much of the Nuggets’ offense involved creating opportunities for teammates.

Murray’s 20 points combined with Jokic’s 31 gave Denver 51 points from its two leading scorers.

Peyton Watson’s 21 Points

Peyton Watson provided another important scoring contribution for Denver.

He recorded:

• 21 points
• 4 rebounds
• 3 assists
• 9-for-17 field goals
• 2-for-5 three pointers

Watson’s 21 points made him Denver’s second-highest scorer.

That scoring distribution is important because the Nuggets did not rely exclusively on Jokic.

Jokic scored 31, Murray scored 20, and Watson added 21.

That gave Denver three players with at least 20 points.

James Harden Leads the Clippers

James Harden was Los Angeles’ leading scorer with 25 points.

His complete statistical line included:

• 25 points
• 5 rebounds
• 9 assists
• 8-for-17 field goals
• 4-for-10 three pointers
• 5-for-5 free throws

Harden also matched Murray with 9 assists.

His 25 points represented nearly one quarter of the Clippers’ 109 total points.

The challenge for Los Angeles was that Harden’s individual production did not translate into enough overall offensive efficiency to match Denver.

Harden’s Three Point Shooting

Harden made 4 of 10 three point attempts.

That is 40%.

It was a respectable contribution, but Denver’s perimeter shooting was much more efficient overall.

The Nuggets made 16 of 28 attempts compared with Los Angeles’ 14 of 40.

That difference helped shape the offensive efficiency gap.

Kawhi Leonard’s 21 Points

Kawhi Leonard scored 21 points for Los Angeles.

He finished with:

• 21 points
• 3 rebounds
• 6 assists
• 8-for-18 field goals
• 1-for-4 three pointers
• 4-for-5 free throws

Leonard therefore contributed both scoring and playmaking.

His 6 assists were the second-highest total among the Clippers’ listed leading contributors.

However, his 8-for-18 shooting produced a lower field goal percentage than several of Denver’s main contributors.

John Collins Adds 18 Points

John Collins scored 18 points while shooting 7-for-11 from the field.

He also contributed:

• 6 rebounds
• 4 assists
• 4-for-7 three pointers

His outside shooting was especially notable.

Collins made four three pointers and connected on approximately 57% of his attempts from distance.

That gave the Clippers another effective perimeter scoring option, although Los Angeles could not sustain that efficiency across the entire lineup.

Ivica Zubac’s Rebounding Contribution

Ivica Zubac finished with 13 points and 7 rebounds.

His line was:

• 13 points
• 7 rebounds
• 2 assists
• 6-for-10 field goals

Zubac was the Clippers’ leading rebounder in the game.

His 60% field goal shooting was also efficient, but Denver’s overall rebounding advantage remained significant.

Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown

The scoring progression provides a clear picture of how the game developed.

Quarter	Clippers	Nuggets	Denver Lead
Q1	27	35	8
Q2	23	24	9
Q3	30	33	12
Q4	29	30	13

First Quarter

Denver immediately established control.

The Nuggets scored 35 points while allowing 27.

The eight-point advantage after 12 minutes gave Denver an early cushion and forced Los Angeles to spend the remainder of the game playing from behind.

Second Quarter

The Clippers slightly narrowed the scoring gap during the second period, but only by one point.

Denver outscored Los Angeles 24-23.

As a result, the Nuggets entered halftime with a 59-50 advantage.

The Clippers remained within striking distance, but Denver had already established the basic statistical pattern that would define the game.

Third Quarter

Denver again increased its lead in the third quarter.

The Nuggets scored 33 points compared with 30 for Los Angeles.

That pushed the margin to 12 points.

The third quarter was particularly important because the Clippers needed a significant response after halftime but did not gain meaningful ground.

Fourth Quarter

Los Angeles scored 29 points in the final period.

Denver scored 30.

That meant the Clippers were unable to create the fourth-quarter surge required to turn the game around.

Denver entered the final quarter with a 12-point lead and finished with a 13-point victory.

Shooting Efficiency Tells the Story

One of the clearest ways to understand this game is to look beyond the number of made field goals.

Both teams made exactly 40 field goals.

Yet Denver won comfortably.

Why?

Because the Nuggets used their possessions more efficiently.

Denver’s 40 field goals came on 73 attempts.

Los Angeles’ 40 came on 86 attempts.

That means Denver’s offense generated the same number of made baskets while taking 13 fewer shots.

The Nuggets also made two more three pointers despite taking 12 fewer three point attempts.

This is a textbook example of why raw shot volume does not necessarily indicate offensive success.

Comparing the Main Player Performances

Player	Team	Points	Rebounds	Assists	FG
Nikola Jokic	Nuggets	31	12	5	8-11
James Harden	Clippers	25	5	9	8-17
Peyton Watson	Nuggets	21	4	3	9-17
Kawhi Leonard	Clippers	21	3	6	8-18
Jamal Murray	Nuggets	20	4	9	7-10
John Collins	Clippers	18	6	4	7-11
Ivica Zubac	Clippers	13	7	2	6-10

The table highlights an important feature of the matchup.

Denver’s leading contributors were generally more efficient from the field.

Jokic made 8 of 11.

Murray made 7 of 10.

Collins was efficient for Los Angeles at 7 of 11, but Harden and Leonard required considerably more attempts for their scoring totals.

Assists and Offensive Creation

Denver finished with 30 assists.

Los Angeles recorded 29.

The difference was only one assist, but the distribution is worth examining.

Murray had 9 assists for Denver.

Harden also had 9 for Los Angeles.

The Nuggets’ overall offensive efficiency suggests that their assists were frequently converted into high-value scoring opportunities.

The team also had several players capable of contributing without dominating the ball.

That balance helped Denver maintain its offensive output throughout the game.

Turnovers: A Rare Statistical Advantage for Los Angeles

The Clippers committed only 9 turnovers.

Denver committed 12.

Therefore, Los Angeles had a three-turnover advantage.

This is one area where the Clippers performed better statistically.

However, the advantage did not overcome Denver’s shooting, rebounding, and free throw advantages.

This is an important lesson when evaluating basketball statistics: no single category should automatically be treated as the explanation for a result.

A team can win the turnover battle and still lose because of efficiency elsewhere.

Rebounding Comparison

Denver’s 43 rebounds compared with Los Angeles’ 34.

That nine-rebound difference was one of the largest team-level statistical gaps in the game.

Jokic’s 12 rebounds accounted for a substantial portion of Denver’s total.

For Los Angeles, Zubac led with 7.

Collins added 6, while Harden collected 5.

Denver’s rebounding advantage helped compensate for the additional turnovers and provided greater control over the possession battle.

Free Throw Comparison

Free throw production was another major difference.

Denver:

• 26 made
• 32 attempts
• 81%

Los Angeles:

• 15 made
• 21 attempts
• 71%

Denver made 11 more free throws.

That is especially significant because the final margin was 13 points.

Free throws therefore accounted for a meaningful portion of the scoring difference.

What the Stats Say About Denver’s Offensive Structure

The numbers suggest a balanced offensive approach.

Jokic scored 31 points, but Denver also received 21 from Watson and 20 from Murray.

Murray’s 9 assists demonstrate another layer of offensive creation.

Denver’s team totals reinforce that balance:

• 40 made field goals
• 16 made three pointers
• 26 made free throws
• 30 assists

The Nuggets were not simply relying on one player to create every scoring opportunity.

Instead, several players contributed through scoring, passing, and rebounding.

What the Stats Say About the Clippers

The Clippers had several strong individual performances.

Harden scored 25 points and had 9 assists.

Leonard scored 21 points and had 6 assists.

Collins scored 18 points on 7-for-11 shooting.

Zubac contributed 13 points and 7 rebounds.

The Clippers also committed only 9 turnovers.

Their primary problem was efficiency across the entire offense.

A 47% field goal percentage is not poor by itself, but it was clearly below Denver’s 55%.

The three point gap was even more pronounced, with Los Angeles shooting 35% and Denver shooting 57%.

Against an offense as efficient as Denver’s, those differences became difficult to overcome.

Real-World Lessons From the Box Score

The denver nuggets vs la clippers match player stats offer several useful lessons for anyone analyzing basketball games.

Do Not Judge Scoring Without Shot Volume

A player scoring 20 points on 10 shots has produced a very different offensive result from a player scoring 20 points on 20 shots.

Murray’s 20 points on 10 field goal attempts demonstrate this clearly.

Look at Multiple Statistical Categories

A complete player evaluation should consider:

• Scoring
• Shooting efficiency
• Rebounding
• Assists
• Turnovers
• Three point shooting
• Free throws
• Defensive contributions

Jokic’s line demonstrates why looking at points alone can miss much of a player’s influence.

Team Efficiency Can Overcome Turnovers

Denver committed three more turnovers than Los Angeles.

Yet Denver won by 13 points.

The Nuggets compensated through shooting efficiency, rebounding, three point accuracy, and free throw production.

How to Analyze Player Stats From This Game

If you are reviewing this matchup for fantasy basketball, historical research, team analysis, or sports content, a useful process is to work through the numbers in this order.

Step 1: Check the Final Score

Start with the basic result.

Denver won 122-109.

Step 2: Compare Team Shooting

Denver shot 55%.

Los Angeles shot 47%.

That immediately identifies a major efficiency difference.

Step 3: Examine Three Point Shooting

Denver made 16 of 28.

Los Angeles made 14 of 40.

The percentage gap is substantial.

Step 4: Review Rebounding

Denver had 43 rebounds.

Los Angeles had 34.

This shows another clear area of Denver’s control.

Step 5: Study the Leading Players

Jokic, Murray, and Watson combined for 72 Denver points.

Harden, Leonard, and Collins combined for 64 Clippers points.

This provides a useful snapshot of scoring distribution.

Step 6: Add Context

Finally, consider records and venue.

Denver entered the game with a 33-16 record and was playing at home.

The Clippers entered at 22-25 and had a 9-16 road record.

These contextual details help place the box score within the broader season.

Season Series Context

After this game, Denver led the season series 2-0.

That means the January 31 result was the second Denver victory over Los Angeles in the series at that point.

For historical research, it is important to distinguish individual-game statistics from season-series results.

The 122-109 score describes this particular game, while the 2-0 figure describes the broader matchup history for that season after the contest.

Attendance and Game Information

The game was played at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado.

Additional recorded details include:

• Date: January 31, 2026
• Venue: Ball Arena
• Attendance: 20,016
• Scheduled game time: 7:00 AM, January 31, 2026
• Final score: Nuggets 122, Clippers 109
• Officiating crew: Curtis Blair, CJ Washington, Ashley Moyer-Gleich

These details are useful when creating a complete historical record of the matchup.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who led the Nuggets in scoring against the Clippers?

Nikola Jokic led Denver with 31 points. He also recorded 12 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals.

Who led the Clippers in scoring?

James Harden led Los Angeles with 25 points. He also had 5 rebounds and 9 assists.

What was the final score of the Nuggets vs Clippers game?

Denver defeated Los Angeles 122-109 on January 31, 2026, at Ball Arena.

How many rebounds did Nikola Jokic have?

Nikola Jokic collected 12 rebounds, making him Denver’s leading rebounder.

How many assists did Jamal Murray record?

Jamal Murray recorded 9 assists and scored 20 points.

Which team shot better from three point range?

Denver shot 57% from three point range, making 16 of 28 attempts. Los Angeles shot 35%, making 14 of 40 attempts.

Conclusion

The denver nuggets vs la clippers match player stats from January 31, 2026, reveal a game decided primarily by efficiency rather than possession security alone.

Denver and Los Angeles each made 40 field goals, but the Nuggets needed 13 fewer attempts to reach that total. Denver also shot 57% from three point range, collected nine more rebounds, and made 11 more free throws.

Nikola Jokic led Denver with 31 points and 12 rebounds, while Jamal Murray combined 20 points with 9 assists. Peyton Watson added 21 points. For Los Angeles, James Harden produced 25 points and 9 assists, Kawhi Leonard scored 21, and John Collins added 18.

The final 122-109 result therefore reflects several connected statistical advantages. Denver’s shooting efficiency, perimeter accuracy, rebounding, and free throw production created enough separation to withstand Los Angeles’ lower turnover total.