Denver nuggets vs Clippers match player stats

The denver nuggets vs clippers match player stats from the January 30, 2026 matchup, listed by some sources as January 31 because of the game information timestamp, tell a much richer story than the final score alone. Denver defeated the LA Clippers 122-109 at Ball Arena, but the result was not simply about Nikola Jokic scoring 31 points. The Nuggets combined exceptional shooting efficiency, strong rebounding, balanced scoring, and timely fourth-quarter execution to control a game against a Clippers team that entered the matchup playing some of its best basketball of the season.

For readers who want the actual player numbers, this game provides plenty to examine. Jokic returned from a month-long absence and produced 31 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 assists in only 25 minutes. James Harden led Los Angeles with 25 points and 9 assists, while Kawhi Leonard added 21 points and 6 assists. Denver also received 22 points from Tim Hardaway Jr., 21 from Peyton Watson, and 20 from Jamal Murray, who added 9 assists.

The most useful way to understand this matchup is to move beyond the leading scorers. Shooting percentages, shot volume, playmaking, rebounding, turnovers, three-point efficiency, and plus-minus all help explain why Denver won by 13 points.

denver nuggets vs clippers match player stats: Game Overview

The game was played at Ball Arena in Denver. The official scorer’s report lists an attendance of 20,016 and identifies the matchup as a sellout. The Nuggets entered at 33-16 overall and 14-9 at home, while the Clippers were 22-25 overall and 9-16 on the road.

Final Score

Team	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Final
LA Clippers	27	23	30	29	109
Denver Nuggets	35	24	33	30	122

Denver led after every quarter.

That matters because the Clippers did not collapse late after holding a comfortable lead. Instead, Denver established control immediately, extending its advantage in the opening period and then answering Los Angeles whenever the Clippers threatened to make the game closer.

The Nuggets’ largest lead reached 18 points, according to the official game information.

Why the Scoreline Can Be Misleading

A 13-point margin might suggest a straightforward Denver victory, but Los Angeles still scored 109 points and shot 47% from the field. The Clippers also made 14 of 40 three-point attempts.

The decisive difference was efficiency.

Denver shot 40-for-73 from the field, 16-for-28 from three, and 26-for-32 at the free-throw line. That translated to approximately 55% field-goal shooting, 57% three-point shooting, and 81% free-throw shooting. Los Angeles finished at 40-for-86 from the field, 14-for-40 from three, and 15-for-21 from the line.

In other words, both teams scored 40 field goals, but Denver needed 13 fewer field-goal attempts to do it.

That is one of the clearest statistical explanations for the result.

Complete Clippers Player Statistics

The Clippers received strong individual performances from several starters, particularly Harden, Leonard, Collins, and Zubac. The problem was that the production was not consistent enough across the entire rotation to match Denver’s efficiency.

James Harden

James Harden was Los Angeles’ leading scorer.

Statistic	Harden
Minutes	33:55
Points	25
FG	8-17
3PT	4-10
FT	5-5
Rebounds	5
Assists	9
Steals	0
Blocks	1
Turnovers	4
Plus/Minus	-17

Harden’s 25 points were accompanied by 9 assists and 5 rebounds. He also shot 8-for-17 from the field and 4-for-10 from three. His perfect 5-for-5 performance at the free-throw line helped keep his scoring efficient.

But the plus-minus of -17 is important context.

Plus-minus should never be treated as a complete evaluation of an individual player, because it reflects what happened while that player was on the floor rather than isolating every action he made. Still, Harden’s -17 was the lowest mark among Clippers players who played substantial minutes, and it highlights how difficult Denver’s overall lineups were for Los Angeles to overcome.

Kawhi Leonard

Kawhi Leonard finished with 21 points, 6 assists, and 3 rebounds.

Statistic	Leonard
Minutes	31:08
Points	21
FG	8-18
3PT	1-4
FT	4-5
Rebounds	3
Assists	6
Steals	2
Blocks	0
Turnovers	2
Plus/Minus	-4

Leonard’s scoring total was solid, but his three-point shooting was limited to 1-for-4. His 6 assists were valuable, especially because Harden also created 9 assists.

The more interesting point is that Leonard was not inefficient overall. He made 8 of 18 shots, good for 44.4%. His 2 steals also contributed defensively.

His -4 plus-minus was considerably better than Harden’s -17, which indicates that Los Angeles was relatively competitive during Leonard’s minutes compared with some other stretches.

John Collins

John Collins produced one of the Clippers’ most efficient scoring performances.

He recorded 18 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists while shooting 7-for-11 from the field and 4-for-7 from three. His 57.1% three-point shooting was particularly valuable.

The unusual part of Collins’ line was his free-throw shooting. He went 0-for-1 at the line.

Collins’ offensive efficiency demonstrates that Los Angeles did have secondary scoring options capable of punishing Denver. The problem was not the absence of efficient individual performances. It was the difference between the number of efficient performances each team could produce simultaneously.

Ivica Zubac

Zubac finished with:

• 13 points
• 7 rebounds
• 2 assists
• 6-for-10 shooting
• 1-for-2 free throws
• 2 turnovers

His 60% field-goal shooting was efficient, and his 7 rebounds helped Los Angeles compete inside.

However, Denver’s frontcourt combination of Jokic and Jonas Valanciunas gave the Nuggets enough size and rebounding to win the overall battle on the glass.

Kris Dunn

Kris Dunn struggled offensively.

He scored 5 points on 2-for-9 shooting and made 1 of 6 attempts from three. He added 5 assists, 2 rebounds, and 3 fouls.

This is an important example of why box-score analysis should not focus only on points. Dunn’s 5 assists provided value, but his shooting performance reduced the offensive pressure Los Angeles could create from the backcourt.

Other Clippers Contributors

The remaining Clippers scoring was distributed as follows:

Player	PTS	REB	AST	FG	3PT
Kobe Sanders	8	2	2	3-7	2-5
Jordan Miller	7	3	0	3-6	0-2
Nicolas Batum	6	3	1	2-6	2-6
Kobe Brown	3	0	0	0-0	0-0
Cam Christie	3	0	0	1-1	0-0
Brook Lopez	0	3	0	0-0	0-0
Yanic Konan Niederhauser	0	0	0	0-1	0-0

The bench production is revealing. Several players contributed, but none became a major scoring force.

Brook Lopez, in particular, scored zero points in 16 minutes, although he contributed 3 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 blocks.

Complete Nuggets Player Statistics

Denver’s offense was led by Jokic, but the Nuggets did not depend on him for every scoring possession. That balance became especially important because Jokic was returning from injury and played only 25 minutes.

Nikola Jokic

Nikola Jokic delivered the headline performance.

Statistic	Jokic
Minutes	25:00
Points	31
FG	8-11
3PT	2-3
FT	13-17
Rebounds	12
Assists	5
Steals	3
Blocks	0
Turnovers	1
Plus/Minus	+11

Jokic’s 31 points came on only 11 field-goal attempts.

That is the number that deserves the most attention.

He made 8 of those 11 shots while also drawing enough fouls to attempt 17 free throws. His 13 made free throws accounted for a substantial portion of his scoring.

He also collected 12 rebounds and recorded 5 assists while committing only one turnover.

The performance was even more notable because it was his first game after missing 16 games with a left knee injury. The official recap reported that he had been out since injuring the knee in a December 29 game against Miami. Denver had gone 10-6 during his absence.

Jokic was also under a minutes restriction and played only 25 minutes, his second-fewest minutes in a game that season at that point.

That context changes the interpretation of his 31-point performance. This was not a case of a star playing 38 or 40 minutes and carrying an entire offense. Denver received 31 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 assists from Jokic in a carefully managed workload.

Tim Hardaway Jr.

Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 22 points.

Statistic	Hardaway Jr.
Minutes	25:00
Points	22
FG	6-9
3PT	5-7
FT	5-5
Rebounds	2
Assists	0
Steals	0
Blocks	0
Turnovers	0
Plus/Minus	+10

His five made three-pointers were crucial.

Hardaway Jr. shot 5-for-7 from long range, giving Denver an efficient perimeter scoring source while Jokic worked inside.

His five three-pointers also help explain why the Nuggets finished 16-for-28 from three as a team.

Peyton Watson

Peyton Watson had an important two-way contribution.

He scored 21 points on 9-for-17 shooting, including 2-for-5 from three. He also collected 4 rebounds and 3 assists.

His plus-minus was +22, the best mark in the game.

That number makes Watson one of the most interesting players to study from the game.

He did not lead Denver in scoring, rebounding, or assists. Yet Denver controlled his minutes strongly enough for him to finish with the game’s highest plus-minus.

That suggests his value extended beyond traditional scoring.

Jamal Murray

Jamal Murray finished with 20 points and 9 assists.

Statistic	Murray
Minutes	36:00
Points	20
FG	7-10
3PT	4-5
FT	2-2
Rebounds	4
Assists	9
Steals	1
Blocks	1
Turnovers	3
Plus/Minus	+25

Murray’s +25 was the strongest plus-minus on the Nuggets and one of the most significant numbers in the game.

He also shot 7-for-10 overall and 4-for-5 from three.

His 9 assists were nearly as important as his 20 points because Denver did not need Murray to force shots. He could score efficiently while also serving as a primary creator.

The official recap noted that Murray’s 20-point performance marked his 35th game of at least 20 points that season, matching his career high for a season at that point.

Jonas Valanciunas

Jonas Valanciunas added 11 points and 6 rebounds in 21 minutes.

He shot 5-for-11 from the field and provided Denver with another physical interior option.

His 6 rebounds helped Denver finish with 43 total rebounds, nine more than Los Angeles.

Bruce Brown

Bruce Brown contributed:

• 6 points
• 2 rebounds
• 3 assists
• 1 steal
• 1 block

He shot 1-for-3 from the field but made all three of his free throws.

His +17 was also notable, showing that Denver’s advantage was not limited to its star players.

Spencer Jones

Spencer Jones scored 4 points and grabbed 6 rebounds while playing 35 minutes.

His scoring was modest, but the 6 rebounds and 3 assists added useful secondary value.

Remaining Nuggets Contributors

Player	PTS	REB	AST	FG	3PT
Jalen Pickett	0	3	3	0-4	0-4
Julian Strawther	3	3	3	1-2	1-1
Zeke Nnaji	2	0	0	1-1	0-0
DaRon Holmes II	2	0	0	1-1	0-0
Hunter Tyson	0	1	1	0-0	0-0

The broader pattern is clear: Denver had scoring from multiple positions and did not need one player to dominate every offensive category.

What the Team Stats Reveal

The most important numbers in the matchup are not necessarily the individual scoring totals.

They are the efficiency numbers.

Field Goal Shooting

Denver:

• 40-for-73
• 54.8% from the field

Los Angeles:

• 40-for-86
• 46.5% from the field

Both teams made exactly 40 field goals.

Denver simply needed far fewer attempts to get there.

That difference is enormous over a full NBA game.

The Nuggets’ 54.8% shooting meant they converted more than half of their field-goal attempts. The Clippers needed 86 attempts to produce the same number of made field goals.

Three-Point Shooting

Denver:

• 16-for-28
• 57.1%

Los Angeles:

• 14-for-40
• 35.0%

The Clippers actually made only two fewer three-pointers than Denver.

But Denver attempted 12 fewer.

That is a major efficiency advantage.

The Nuggets’ 57.1% three-point shooting is the clearest statistical sign that Denver’s offense was operating at an unusually high level.

Hardaway Jr. went 5-for-7, Murray went 4-for-5, and Jokic went 2-for-3 from outside.

That combination is difficult for any defense to survive.

Free Throws

Denver went 26-for-32 from the line.

Los Angeles went 15-for-21.

Denver therefore made 11 more free throws.

Jokic was responsible for 13 of Denver’s 26 made free throws.

His ability to score efficiently while getting to the line helped compensate for his limited minutes.

Rebounding

Denver collected 43 rebounds.

Los Angeles collected 34.

The nine-rebound advantage mattered because it created additional possessions and reduced the Clippers’ ability to generate second-chance opportunities.

Jokic led Denver with 12 rebounds.

Valanciunas added 6, while Spencer Jones also collected 6.

Zubac led the Clippers with 7.

John Collins added 6.

Assists

Denver recorded 30 assists.

Los Angeles recorded 29.

This category was much closer than the final score suggests.

The difference was not that Denver moved the ball dramatically more than Los Angeles.

Instead, Denver converted its opportunities at a much higher rate.

That is an important distinction.

A team can generate a similar number of assists but still lose badly if its shot-making efficiency is substantially lower.

Turnovers

The Clippers committed 9 turnovers.

Denver committed 12.

On the surface, that favors Los Angeles.

It is another reason this game should not be reduced to a simple “Denver did everything better” narrative.

The Clippers actually protected the ball better.

Yet the Nuggets’ superior shooting more than offset their three additional turnovers.

Steals and Blocks

Both teams recorded 7 steals.

Denver had 4 blocks compared with 3 for Los Angeles.

Again, there was no overwhelming defensive-statistical difference.

The decisive advantage came primarily from offensive efficiency and shot quality.

The Fourth Quarter Decided the Story

Denver entered the fourth quarter ahead after scoring 33 points in the third.

Los Angeles scored 29 in the final period.

That is not a poor offensive quarter for the Clippers.

The problem was that Denver scored 30 and prevented the Clippers from turning its third-quarter offense into a real comeback.

Jokic was particularly important.

The official recap reported that he scored 11 points during a 3:47 stretch in the fourth quarter, helping push Denver’s lead from five points to 16.

That sequence illustrates the difference between box-score production and game-changing production.

Jokic’s final total of 31 points was impressive.

But the timing of his fourth-quarter scoring was arguably even more important.

He did not need to dominate for 48 minutes.

He needed to produce when the game was most vulnerable.

Why Nikola Jokic’s Return Was So Significant

The context surrounding Jokic’s return cannot be ignored.

He had missed 16 games because of a left knee injury. Denver had managed a 10-6 record during his absence, which showed the team could remain competitive without its best player.

His return, however, immediately changed the offensive ceiling.

Jokic played 25 minutes and still produced:

• 31 points
• 12 rebounds
• 5 assists
• 3 steals
• 1 turnover
• 8-for-11 shooting
• 2-for-3 three-point shooting
• 13-for-17 free throws

This was a highly efficient performance.

More importantly, Denver did not require him to play an excessive workload.

That is a meaningful takeaway when evaluating the Nuggets beyond this individual game.

The team had already demonstrated some ability to survive his absence. His return added another layer of offensive control without requiring an extreme minutes load.

The Most Important Statistical Matchups

Jokic vs. the Clippers Frontcourt

Jokic’s 31 points and 12 rebounds immediately put pressure on the Clippers’ interior defense.

Zubac had a solid game with 13 points and 7 rebounds.

Collins also contributed 18 points and 6 rebounds.

But Jokic’s combination of scoring, rebounding, passing, and free-throw generation made him much harder to neutralize.

Harden vs. Denver’s Perimeter Defense

Harden produced 25 points and 9 assists.

That is a strong offensive game.

Yet Denver limited the overall impact of his production by maintaining efficiency elsewhere and preventing Los Angeles from turning Harden’s creation into a more efficient team attack.

Harden’s four turnovers were also important.

Murray and Hardaway Jr. vs. Clippers Perimeter Coverage

Murray and Hardaway Jr. combined for 42 points.

Together they shot:

• 13-for-19 from the field
• 9-for-12 from three

That is extraordinary efficiency.

Their perimeter shooting made it much harder for Los Angeles to commit extra defensive attention to Jokic.

When the Clippers focused on the interior, Denver could punish them outside.

When defenders stayed attached to shooters, Jokic could attack inside and draw fouls.

That offensive balance was a major reason the Nuggets controlled the game.

Plus-Minus: What It Says and What It Does Not

The plus-minus numbers provide useful clues.

Denver’s notable marks included:

• Jamal Murray: +25
• Peyton Watson: +22
• Bruce Brown: +17
• Tim Hardaway Jr.: +10
• Nikola Jokic: +11

Los Angeles had:

• Cam Christie: +2
• Kobe Brown: +2
• Kawhi Leonard: -4
• Ivica Zubac: -6
• Kris Dunn: -5
• James Harden: -17

Murray’s +25 stands out.

He did not lead Denver in scoring.

He did not lead the team in rebounds.

He did not lead the team in assists.

Yet Denver was 25 points better than Los Angeles during his minutes.

That does not mean Murray individually caused a 25-point swing. Plus-minus is influenced by teammates, opponents, lineup combinations, game situation, and shooting variance.

But it does reinforce the broader statistical picture: Denver’s offense and lineups were extremely effective during Murray’s minutes.

A More Useful Way to Read the Box Score

For anyone studying basketball statistics, this game is a good example of why looking only at points can produce an incomplete conclusion.

Suppose someone reads only the scoring leaders.

They see:

1. Jokic: 31
2. Harden: 25
3. Hardaway Jr.: 22
4. Leonard: 21
5. Watson: 21
6. Murray: 20

That tells us who scored.

It does not tell us why Denver won.

A better process is:

Step 1: Compare shooting volume

Denver made the same number of field goals as Los Angeles despite taking 13 fewer attempts.

Step 2: Compare three-point efficiency

Denver made 16 of 28.

Los Angeles made 14 of 40.

Step 3: Check free throws

Denver made 26.

Los Angeles made 15.

Step 4: Check rebounding

Denver won the rebound battle 43-34.

Step 5: Check turnovers

Los Angeles actually had fewer turnovers, 9 compared with Denver’s 12.

Step 6: Look at lineup impact

Murray and Watson posted excellent plus-minus figures.

Step 7: Add game context

Jokic was returning from a long injury absence and was playing under a minutes restriction.

This process gives a much more accurate explanation of the game.

What Went Wrong for the Clippers?

The Clippers did several things well.

They protected the ball.

They had 29 assists.

Harden and Leonard combined for 46 points and 15 assists.

Collins shot extremely well.

Zubac was efficient.

Yet the central problem was shot efficiency.

Los Angeles attempted 86 field goals and made 40.

Denver attempted only 73 and made 40.

That means the Clippers needed 13 additional attempts to produce the same number of made shots.

The three-point gap was even more revealing.

Los Angeles attempted 40 threes but made 14.

Denver attempted 28 and made 16.

Taking more threes is not automatically better.

The value depends on shot quality and conversion rate.

In this game, Denver’s smaller volume produced substantially more made threes.

What Went Right for Denver?

Denver’s success came from several connected factors.

Efficient Star Production

Jokic scored 31 points on 8-for-11 shooting.

Elite Perimeter Shooting

Hardaway Jr. and Murray combined for nine made threes.

Secondary Scoring

Watson scored 21.

Rebounding

Denver won 43-34 on the glass.

Ball Movement

The Nuggets produced 30 assists.

Free-Throw Advantage

Denver made 26 free throws compared with 15 for Los Angeles.

Fourth-Quarter Execution

Denver maintained control rather than allowing the Clippers to turn their third-quarter scoring into a comeback.

These factors worked together.

That is why the final result was more than simply a star player having a big night.

Season-Series Context

The January meeting was important within the season series.

The Nuggets had already defeated the Clippers 130-116 on November 13, 2025.

The January victory therefore gave Denver a 2-0 advantage in the season series at that point.

The next listed meeting came on February 20, 2026, when the Clippers won 114-115 in Denver. That later result means the season series ultimately became much more competitive than the January record alone suggested.

For historical accuracy, it is useful to distinguish between the standings immediately after a game and the eventual season-series outcome.

What Fans Can Learn From These Numbers

The game provides several practical lessons for anyone trying to understand NBA player statistics.

First, points are only the starting point.

Second, shooting efficiency can explain a large portion of a result.

Third, player roles matter. Jokic’s 31 points were valuable, but so were Murray’s 9 assists and Hardaway Jr.’s five three-pointers.

Fourth, timing matters.

A player’s fourth-quarter production can have a larger competitive impact than the same number of points scored during a comfortable stretch.

Fifth, context matters.

Jokic’s 31-point return means something different because he played only 25 minutes after missing 16 games.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who led the Nuggets in scoring against the Clippers?

Nikola Jokic led Denver with 31 points. He also recorded 12 rebounds and 5 assists in 25 minutes.

Who led the Clippers in scoring?

James Harden led Los Angeles with 25 points and added 9 assists and 5 rebounds.

What was Nikola Jokic’s stat line?

Jokic finished with 31 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals. He shot 8-for-11 from the field, 2-for-3 from three, and 13-for-17 from the free-throw line.

How many points did Jamal Murray score?

Jamal Murray scored 20 points and recorded 9 assists, 4 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block. He shot 7-for-10 overall and 4-for-5 from three.

Which team shot better?

Denver shot 54.8% from the field and 57.1% from three. The Clippers shot 46.5% from the field and 35.0% from three.

Why did Denver win?

Denver won primarily because of superior shooting efficiency, three-point accuracy, free-throw production, rebounding, and strong fourth-quarter execution. The Nuggets made 40 field goals on 73 attempts, while the Clippers needed 86 attempts to make the same number.

Conclusion

The denver nuggets vs clippers match player stats show why the 122-109 result cannot be explained by one headline number.

Nikola Jokic was the central figure, returning from a 16-game absence to score 31 points and grab 12 rebounds in only 25 minutes. James Harden led Los Angeles with 25 points and 9 assists, while Kawhi Leonard added 21 points and 6 assists. Denver also received major contributions from Tim Hardaway Jr., Peyton Watson, and Jamal Murray.

The deeper story was Denver’s efficiency.

Both teams made 40 field goals, but Denver took 13 fewer attempts. The Nuggets also made 16 of 28 three-point attempts compared with 14 of 40 for Los Angeles. Denver won the rebounding battle 43-34 and made 26 free throws compared with 15 by the Clippers.

Jamal Murray’s +25 and Peyton Watson’s +22 also show that Denver’s advantage extended beyond Jokic. Meanwhile, Harden’s 25-point performance and Collins’ efficient 18 points demonstrate that the Clippers had quality individual production but could not match Denver’s overall shot-making.

The most important lesson from this matchup is that a box score should be read as a connected story. Scoring totals tell you who produced points. Efficiency, shot volume, rebounding, assists, turnovers, free throws, and plus-minus help explain how those individual performances became a team result.

That combination makes this game a particularly useful example of how NBA player statistics should be interpreted rather than simply listed.