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4 Things We Learned As Clippers Dominate Nuggets In Impressive Preseason Showing
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- 4 Things We Learned As Clippers Dominate Nuggets In Impressive Preseason Showing
Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
The Los Angeles Clippers delivered an awesome preseason performance, beating the Denver Nuggets 122 -110 and showcasing their offensive firepower and improving team chemistry. Los Angeles shot 51.7% from the field and hit 15 three-pointers, while Denver struggled to keep pace despite a respectable 47.7% overall.
The biggest difference came from beyond the arc, where the Clippers connected on 45.5% of their attempts compared to Denver's 33.3%.
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The Nuggets had some individual bright spots, including Cam Whitmore 's explosive 22-point performance and Julian Strawther's 17 points. However, their 16 turnovers and Denver's poor defense proved costly.
Here are four things we learned from the Clippers' impressive preseason win.
1. Cam Whitmore Looks Like A Serious Scoring Weapon
If the Clippers were looking for a reason to be excited about Cam Whitmore, this performance provided one.
Whitmore poured in 22 points on 8-10 shooting, including 3-4 from three-point range, in just 25 minutes. He also recorded a steal and a block, showing that his impact was not limited to scoring.
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The most impressive part was his efficiency. Whitmore attacked his opportunities and punished Denver whenever it gave him room to operate.
He was also one of the few Nuggets players who consistently made life difficult for the Clippers' defense. While Denver's primary starters struggled to generate enough offense, Whitmore gave the team a reliable scoring punch off the bench.
Julian Strawther added 17 points on 7-13 shooting, including a three-pointer, giving Denver another productive bench scorer. But Whitmore's combination of volume and efficiency stood out.
For the Nuggets, performances like this could be important as they look for additional scoring beyond Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray . Hopefully, Whitmore can prove to be an excellent pickup in due time.
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2. The Clippers' Three-Point Shooting Can Be Critical
The Clippers' perimeter shooting was a major reason they controlled this game. Los Angeles finished 15-33 from three-point range, converting an impressive 45.5% of its attempts.
Denver made the same number of three-pointers? No, the Nuggets connected on 11-33, meaning the Clippers generated a 12-point advantage from beyond the arc.
Rui Hachimura led the Clippers with three made three-pointers on five attempts, finishing with 16 points. Keaton Wagler also connected on three triples, scoring 12 points while adding five rebounds and four assists.
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Derrick Jones Jr. chipped in 14 points, while Darius Garland added another 14 points and seven assists. The Clippers had multiple players capable of scoring or creating opportunities, and that was the difference.
Brook Lopez contributed nine points in only eight minutes, including a three-pointer, while Jalen Pickett scored 10 points on 4-6 shooting and made two of his three attempts from deep.
The preseason is not a perfect indicator of regular-season success, but Los Angeles' ability to combine efficient shooting with solid playmaking is an encouraging sign.
3. Darius Garland Gives The Clippers Another Playmaking Threat
Darius Garland 's 14-point, seven-assist performance offered another positive sign for Los Angeles. Garland shot 5-12 from the field and added two rebounds and one steal in 23 minutes.
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He also committed four turnovers, so there is room for improvement, but his ability to create opportunities for teammates was evident. The Clippers finished with 35 assists on 45 made field goals, an impressive reflection of their ball movement.
They were not dependent on isolation possessions to generate offense, and Garland played an important role in keeping the attack organized.
Keaton Wagler also contributed four assists, while Jalen Pickett added five assists in 20 minutes. That distribution helped Los Angeles maintain offensive pressure even as the lineup changed throughout the game.
Garland's playmaking is particularly valuable because it gives the Clippers another player who can initiate the offense and create scoring chances for others. With multiple capable scorers on the roster, a guard who can consistently put teammates in good positions can make the entire unit more dangerous.
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The Clippers' 11 turnovers compared to Denver's 16 also reflected a cleaner overall offensive performance. While Garland had his own mistakes, Los Angeles did a better job protecting possessions as a team.
4. Nikola Jokic And Jamal Murray Struggle To Find Their Rhythm
Nikola Jokic finished with just five points on 1-6 shooting , although he still recorded six rebounds and seven assists in 17 minutes. His playmaking was productive as usual, but his scoring was unusually quiet.
Jamal Murray was more efficient, scoring 14 points on 6-8 shooting, including two three-pointers. However, he recorded only one assist in 17 minutes and did not have the kind of all-around influence that could help Denver keep pace with Los Angeles.
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Christian Braun added three points, while Cameron Johnson scored five. Aaron Gordon finished with eight points and six rebounds in 14 minutes.
It is important not to overreact to one preseason game. Jokic and Murray are established stars, and their performances in October do not determine what they will look like once the regular season begins.
Still, Denver's supporting cast will need to provide consistent production when its stars are not carrying the scoring load. Whitmore and Strawther offered encouraging contributions, but the Nuggets could not match Los Angeles' collective efficiency.
Denver finished with 29 assists, which was a respectable total, but its 16 turnovers and 33.3% three-point shooting made the offensive performance less effective than the Clippers' attack.
The encouraging news for Denver is that this is precisely what preseason basketball is for: identifying areas to improve before the games begin to matter more.
