Clippers vs Denver Nuggets match player stats tell the story of a game that could hardly have been closer. The Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Denver Nuggets 115–114 on February 19, 2026, at Intuit Dome, but the result was still uncertain with less than one second left. Bennedict Mathurin became the biggest name of the night with 38 points, while Nikola Jokić answered with 22 points and a huge 17 rebounds for Denver. The complete numbers are available in the official NBA box score.
What made this game so interesting? It was not simply about one superstar scoring a lot of points. Denver and Los Angeles kept answering each other, and the game stayed alive until Jamal Murray stood at the free-throw line with just 0.9 seconds remaining.
Quick Match Snapshot
| Match Detail | Result |
|---|---|
| Teams | Denver Nuggets vs Los Angeles Clippers |
| Date | February 19, 2026 |
| Venue | Intuit Dome, Inglewood, California |
| Final Score | Clippers 115, Nuggets 114 |
| Leading Scorer | Bennedict Mathurin — 38 points |
| Nuggets Leading Scorer | Nikola Jokić — 22 points |
| Top Rebounder | Nikola Jokić — 17 rebounds |
| Key Clippers Star | Kawhi Leonard — 23 points |
| Final Margin | 1 point |
The Clippers scored 25 points in the first quarter, while Denver scored 24. Denver then moved ahead by halftime, but Los Angeles answered with a stronger third quarter. Both teams scored 37 points in the fourth, leaving the earlier one-point difference as the final margin.
Clippers vs Denver Nuggets Match Player Stats
Here are the most important numbers from the game.
Los Angeles Clippers Player Stats
| Player | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Other Key Stats |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bennedict Mathurin | 38 | 5 | 4 | 3 steals |
| Kawhi Leonard | 23 | 4 | 3 | 8-of-18 FG |
| Derrick Jones Jr. | 22 | 3 | 1 | 6-of-7 FT |
| John Collins | 11 | 12 | 4 | 3 blocks |
| Brook Lopez | 8 | 6 | 2 | 1 steal, 1 block |
| Nicolas Batum | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2 three-pointers |
| Yanic Konan Niederhäuser | 4 | 4 | 1 | 2-of-3 FG |
| Kris Dunn | 2 | 8 | 8 | 2 steals |
| Jordan Miller | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 steal |
Mathurin was clearly the offensive leader. He made 12 of 22 field-goal attempts and went 12 of 13 from the free-throw line. Those free throws became especially important late in the game.
Denver Nuggets Player Stats
| Player | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Other Key Stats |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nikola Jokić | 22 | 17 | 6 | 9-of-22 FG |
| Jamal Murray | 20 | 8 | 8 | 2 steals |
| Bruce Brown | 19 | 5 | 6 | 6-of-9 FG |
| Cameron Johnson | 18 | 4 | 3 | 4-of-4 FT |
| Julian Strawther | 18 | 1 | 2 | 6 three-pointers |
| Christian Braun | 7 | 2 | 3 | 3 steals |
| Jonas Valančiūnas | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 steals |
| Spencer Jones | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 block |
| Tim Hardaway Jr. | 2 | 2 | 0 | 20 minutes |
Denver had five players score at least 18 points, which shows how balanced its attack was. Still, nobody reached Mathurin’s 38-point total.
Bennedict Mathurin Changed the Game
The biggest story was Bennedict Mathurin.
This was his home debut for the Clippers after joining Los Angeles from Indiana around the trade deadline. Instead of needing several games to settle in, he immediately produced one of the strongest performances on the floor. The NBA recap notes that his 38 points matched his career high.
Think about his performance in simple terms. If the Clippers had scored 115 points and Mathurin scored 38 of them, he was responsible for roughly one-third of his team’s points by himself.
But scoring 38 points is only part of the story.
Mathurin attacked the basket and forced Denver to defend him without fouling. When the Nuggets did foul him, he punished them at the line.
He attempted 13 free throws and made 12.
That became extremely important because Los Angeles won by only one point.
Mathurin also collected five rebounds, gave out four assists, and recorded three steals. It was not just a night of shooting. He helped in several parts of the game.
Kawhi Leonard Quietly Added 23 Points
When another player scores 38, a 23-point performance can almost disappear from the conversation.
But Kawhi Leonard was still important.
Leonard finished with 23 points and four rebounds. He made eight of his 18 shots from the field and added six free throws.
His scoring gave Los Angeles another player Denver had to worry about.
That matters because basketball becomes much harder for a defense when it cannot focus on only one scorer. If Denver sent too much attention toward Mathurin, Leonard could find room.
If it focused on Leonard, Mathurin could attack.
That balance helped the Clippers survive a very close fourth quarter.
Derrick Jones Jr. Gave Los Angeles Another Scoring Option
Derrick Jones Jr. also had a strong night.
He recorded 22 points, making seven of his 15 field-goal attempts. He also went six of seven from the free-throw line.
That meant Los Angeles had three players with at least 22 points:
Mathurin: 38
Leonard: 23
Jones: 22
Together, they scored 83 of the Clippers’ 115 points.
That is a huge share of the offense.
Jones was also involved in the wild final moment when he fouled Jamal Murray on a late three-point attempt. That gave Denver one final opportunity to change the result.
John Collins Did the Work Around the Basket
John Collins did not score 20 or 30 points, but his numbers show why looking only at scoring can be misleading.
Collins recorded 11 points and 12 rebounds, giving him a double-double.
He also produced four assists and three blocks.
That combination helped Los Angeles at both ends of the court. While Mathurin, Leonard, and Jones handled much of the scoring, Collins helped secure rebounds and protect the basket.
Basketball teams need players who can do those smaller jobs.
Without rebounds, the other team gets another chance to score.
Without defense near the basket, easy points can quickly appear.
Collins helped in both areas.
Kris Dunn Had Only 2 Points—But Look Again
Kris Dunn’s stat line is a perfect example of why points do not tell the whole story.
He scored only 2 points.
Does that mean he had a bad game?
Not necessarily.
Dunn collected 8 rebounds and 8 assists, while also recording two steals.
Eight assists means he repeatedly helped teammates score.
Eight rebounds from a guard are also valuable.
So while his scoring total looks small, his overall contribution was much bigger than two points.
Nikola Jokić Dominated the Rebounding Battle
For Denver, Nikola Jokić once again filled the stat sheet.
He finished with:
22 points
17 rebounds
6 assists
Seventeen rebounds were the most by any player in the game.
Jokić did not have his most efficient shooting night. He made nine of 22 field-goal attempts and missed all six of his three-point attempts.
Still, he remained dangerous.
Why?
Because Jokić does much more than score.
He can grab a rebound, start the offense, find an open teammate, or score near the basket. Even when his outside shot is not falling, he can influence the game in several ways.
His 17 rebounds helped Denver finish level with Los Angeles at 45 total rebounds each.
Jamal Murray Nearly Changed the Ending
Jamal Murray’s night will probably be remembered most for the final second.
He finished with 20 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists.
That is already a strong all-around line.
But with Denver trailing late, Murray attempted a three-pointer and was fouled with 0.9 seconds remaining. He went to the line with a chance to tie the game.
Murray made the first free throw.
Then he made the second.
That brought Denver within one point.
He missed the third, however, and time expired after the rebound. The Clippers escaped with the 115–114 victory.
Imagine how small the difference was.
One made free throw could have changed everything.
That is what made the final seconds so dramatic.
Julian Strawther Was Dangerous From Deep
Julian Strawther scored 18 points, and all six of his made field goals came from behind the three-point line.
He made 6 of 10 three-point attempts, an excellent 60% rate.
Whenever Denver needed outside scoring, Strawther provided it.
Three-point shooting can change a game quickly. One shot is worth three points instead of two, so two quick three-pointers can suddenly erase a six-point gap.
Strawther’s shooting helped Denver stay close even when the Clippers found success near the basket.
Bruce Brown Provided a Big Boost
Bruce Brown added 19 points, five rebounds, and six assists from Denver’s supporting group.
He shot six of nine from the field and made three of five three-point attempts.
Brown’s efficient scoring mattered because Denver needed help beyond Jokić and Murray.
Cameron Johnson also scored 18.
That gave the Nuggets several useful scoring options, even though they eventually finished one point short.
Team Stats Explain Why the Game Was So Close
Sometimes the individual numbers are exciting, but team stats explain the bigger picture.
The Clippers shot 47.1% from the field, while Denver shot 45.3%.
Los Angeles struggled from three-point range, hitting only 8 of 33 attempts, or 24.2%.
Denver did better from deep, making 13 of 40, or 32.5%.
So why didn’t Denver win?
There were several small differences.
Los Angeles made 25 free throws compared with Denver’s 23. The Clippers also scored 58 points in the paint, compared with Denver’s 50, and received a major 49–29 advantage in bench points.
Denver also committed more turnovers.
In a one-point game, every missed free throw, turnover, rebound, and extra possession matters.
Quarter-by-Quarter Score
| Quarter | Nuggets | Clippers |
|---|---|---|
| First | 24 | 25 |
| Second | 28 | 20 |
| Third | 25 | 33 |
| Fourth | 37 | 37 |
| Final | 114 | 115 |
Denver entered halftime leading 52–45.
Then the game changed.
Los Angeles scored 33 points in the third quarter while Denver managed 25. That turned a seven-point halftime deficit into a one-point Clippers lead.
The teams then matched each other with 37 points apiece in the final quarter.
That third-quarter swing became the difference.
How the Final Minute Became a Thriller
With 46 seconds remaining, Jokić scored inside to tie the game at 107–107.
Mathurin then reached the free-throw line and made two shots, putting Los Angeles ahead again.
The game continued to swing.
With nine seconds remaining, Mathurin made another pair of free throws to give the Clippers a 115–112 lead.
Denver still had one final chance.
Murray tried a three-pointer and was fouled with less than one second remaining.
Three free throws.
Make all three, and Denver could tie the game.
Murray made two.
The third did not fall.
Game over.
Clippers 115, Nuggets 114.
Why the Clippers Won Despite Poor Three-Point Shooting
This may be the most interesting stat from the whole game.
Los Angeles made only 24.2% of its three-pointers.
Normally, shooting that poorly from deep can make winning difficult.
Yet the Clippers still won.
They did it by attacking inside, getting to the free-throw line, receiving huge production from Mathurin, and getting 22 points from Derrick Jones Jr.
Los Angeles finished with more points in the paint and more bench points.
In simple words, the Clippers found other ways to score when their three-point shots were not falling.
Good teams sometimes have to do exactly that.
A Different Result From Their Previous Meeting
This result also looked very different from the teams’ previous meeting.
On January 30, 2026, Denver defeated Los Angeles 122–109. Jokić scored 31 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in that game, while James Harden led the Clippers with 25 points and nine assists.
Less than three weeks later, the Clippers turned the matchup around.
And instead of Harden leading the scoring, it was new arrival Mathurin producing 38 points.
That is one reason NBA matchups can change so quickly. Rosters change, players get healthy, and one hot shooting night can completely alter a result.
What Do These Player Stats Really Tell Us?
The box score shows more than simply who scored the most points.
Mathurin was the best scorer.
Jokić controlled the boards.
Murray created opportunities for teammates.
Collins helped Los Angeles with rebounds and blocks.
Dunn affected the game without scoring much.
Strawther stretched the Clippers’ defense with his three-point shooting.
When all those little stories are placed together, the reason for the one-point final score becomes easier to understand.
Neither team completely controlled the game.
Denver had its moments.
Los Angeles had its moments.
And eventually, one missed free throw separated them.
FAQs
Who won the Clippers vs Denver Nuggets game?
The Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Denver Nuggets 115–114 on February 19, 2026.
Who scored the most points in Clippers vs Nuggets?
Bennedict Mathurin led all players with 38 points for the Clippers.
How many points did Nikola Jokić score against the Clippers?
Nikola Jokić scored 22 points. He also grabbed 17 rebounds and recorded six assists.
How many points did Kawhi Leonard score?
Kawhi Leonard finished with 23 points, four rebounds, and three assists.
What were Jamal Murray’s stats?
Murray recorded 20 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists for Denver.
How many rebounds did Jokić have?
Jokić collected 17 rebounds, the highest total by any player in the game.
Why was the ending so close?
Denver’s Jamal Murray was fouled while attempting a three-pointer with only 0.9 seconds left. He made two free throws but missed the third, leaving Los Angeles ahead by one point.
Who was the Clippers’ best player in the match?
Statistically, Mathurin had the biggest scoring performance, finishing with 38 points along with five rebounds, four assists, and three steals.
Final Thoughts
The Clippers vs Denver Nuggets match player stats show just how dramatic an NBA game can become when two teams are separated by almost nothing. Bennedict Mathurin’s 38 points gave Los Angeles the biggest individual performance, while Nikola Jokić’s 22 points and 17 rebounds kept Denver fighting until the final second.
But the most memorable number may simply be one.
One point separated the teams.
One free throw could have changed the result.
And one thrilling finish turned an ordinary regular-season game into a matchup basketball fans had plenty to talk about.
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