On February 19, 2026, the Los Angeles Clippers secured a thrilling 115-114 victory over the Denver Nuggets at the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. The game was a showcase of exceptional talent, with Bennedict Mathurin leading the Clippers with an impressive 38-point performance in his home debut. But it was the final seconds that truly captivated the audience, as Jamal Murray had a chance to tie the game with three free throws, only to miss the third and allow the Clippers to secure the win.
The Clippers' Kawhi Leonard contributed 23 points, and Derrick Jones Jr. added 22 points, helping the team improve to 21-7 since December 2025. Mathurin, who was acquired from Indiana at the trade deadline, showcased his scoring prowess, going 12 of 22 from the field. Leonard, meanwhile, extended his streak of scoring at least 20 points to 34 consecutive games, a remarkable achievement.
For the Nuggets, Nikola Jokic had a double-double with 22 points and 17 rebounds, while Jamal Murray scored 20 points. Bruce Brown and Cam Johnson each contributed 19 and 18 points, respectively. However, Denver was without key players Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson due to hamstring injuries.
The game took an intense turn with 10:27 remaining when tensions flared between the Clippers' Yanic Konan Niederhauser, Kris Dunn, and Mathurin, and the Nuggets' Jonas Valanciunas under the Denver basket following a free throw. The incident resulted in technical fouls for Dunn, Mathurin, and Valanciunas, with Denver making one technical free throw to tie the game at 83-83.
The Nuggets tied the game at 107-107 with 46 seconds remaining on a shot inside from Jokic. However, the Clippers responded with two free throws from Mathurin, taking a 115-112 lead with nine seconds left. The final score of 115-114 secured the Clippers' victory, and they will now host the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night.
The next game for the Nuggets will be against the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night. The Clippers, on the other hand, will look to continue their winning streak against the Lakers.
