Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard drives past Denver Nuggets forward Spencer Jones during the first half on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets guard Jalen Pickett drives past Clippers forward John Collins during the first half on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Clippers center Ivica Zubac, left, looks to pass the ball as Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić defends during the first half on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Clippers center Ivica Zubac, front, is covered by Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić during the first half on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets guard Peyton Watson, left, drives to the basket as Clippers guard Kobe Sanders (4) defends during the first half on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray drives to the basket between Clippers center Ivica Zubac, left, and forward John Collins during the first half on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue directs his team from the sideline during the first half of a game against the Denver Nuggets on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets center Jonas Valančiūnas, right, blocks a shot by Clippers guard James Harden during the first half on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets guard Peyton Watson reacts after dunking in front of Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard, right, during the first half on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
From left, Denver Nuggets guard Jalen Pickett and center Nikola Jokić pursue the ball with Clippers guard Kris Dunn during the second half on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Clippers guard James Harden, right, drives to the basket as Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) defends during the second half on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Clippers forward John Collins reacts after dunking during the second half of their game against the Denver Nuggets on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard drives to the basket as Denver Nuggets guard Tim Hardaway Jr. (10) and center Jonas Valančiūnas, left, defend during the second half on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Clippers guard Jordan Miller, right, goes up for a shot as Denver Nuggets center Jonas Valančiūnas defends during the second half on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets center Jonas Valančiūnas, left, pulls down a rebound as Nuggets guard Bruce Brown, front right, and Clippers guard Kris Dunn, back right, cover during the second half on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard, center, drives to the basket between Denver Nuggets forward Spencer Jones, left, and center Jonas Valančiūnas during the second half on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Clippers guard James Harden, right, looks to pass the ball while under pressure from Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić, left, and guard Peyton Watson during the second half on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets guard Peyton Watson, left, looks to pass the ball as Clippers forward John Collins defends during the second half on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue directs his team from the sideline during the second half of their game against the Denver Nuggets on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Clippers forward John Collins, right, grabs a rebound as Denver Nuggets forward Spencer Jones defends during the second half on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, left, looks to pass the ball as Clippers guard Kris Dunn defends during the second half on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets forward Spencer Jones, left, and Clippers forward John Collins pursue a loose ball during the second half on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, left, drives past Clippers guard Kris Dunn during the second half on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, center, drives between Clippers forward John Collins, left, and guard Kris Dunn, right, during the first half on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Injured Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon, left, looks on from the bench during the second half of a game against the Clippers on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets guard Peyton Watson, right, hangs from the rim after dunking in front of Clippers guard Jordan Miller during the second half on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić goes up for a basket as Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) defends during the first half on Friday night in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets guard Tim Hardaway Jr. gestures after making a 3-point shot during the second half of a game against the Clippers on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Returning from an injury, Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić, center, jokes with player development coaches Darrell Arthur, left, and Cam Griffin, right, before warming up for a game against the Clippers on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Returning from an injury, Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić, center, jokes with player development coaches Darrell Arthur, left, and Cam Griffin, right, before warming up for a game against the Clippers on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić warms up before a game against the Clippers on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Show Caption
1 of 31
Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard drives past Denver Nuggets forward Spencer Jones during the first half on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
DENVER — The Clippers tried to spoil the party, but Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets rode the good vibes of his return across the finish line.
Jokic had 31 points and 12 rebounds in his first game in a month, Tim Hardaway Jr. added 22 points and the Nuggets knocked off the Clippers, 122-109, on Friday night.
Jokic, the three-time NBA MVP, missed 16 games after injuring his left knee in the first half of a Dec. 29 loss at Miami. The Nuggets went 10-6 during that stretch, which also included extended absences from starters Cameron Johnson and Christian Braun.
Jokic’s 29th double-double of the season came despite being on a minutes restriction imposed by Coach David Adelman. The 30-year-old Serbian was limited to 25 minutes, his second-fewest in a game this season.
James Harden had 25 points and nine assists for the Clippers, who had won 16 of their previous 19 games, the best win percentage in that NBA during that period. Kawhi Leonard scored 21 points, John Collins finished with 18 and Ivica Zubac added 13 as the Clippers saw their three-game winning streak end.
Jokic scored 11 points over a stretch of 3:47 in the fourth quarter that extended Denver’s lead from five to 16. The Nuggets improved to 7-3 this season in the second game of a back-to-back.
Jamal Murray had 22 points, and Peyton Watson added 21 for Denver. Murray, who made four of his five 3-point shots and had a team-high nine assists, scored at least 20 points in a game for the 35th time this season, matching a career high.
Hardaway opened the fourth quarter with a 3-pointer to give Denver a 95-80 lead, but Kobe Sanders scored eight consecutive points to start a 13-2 Clippers surge that made it a four-point game.
The Nuggets pulled away from there. Hardaway was fouled on a 3-point attempt and hit all three free throws, and Jokic scored the Nuggets’ next eight points to make it 108-97 with 5:22 left. Collins missed at the other end, and Denver’s Bruce Brown hit a pair of free throws to extend the advantage to 13 points.
Jokic hit Watson with a behind-the-back pass for a dunk, and then the 6-foot-11 Serbian finished his night with a 3-pointer with 3:22 left.
Jokic had 14 points and seven rebounds in less then 11 first-half minutes, helping Denver lead by as many as 13. The Clippers closed within 53-50 in the final minute of the second quarter before a Murray 3-pointer gave the Nuggets a 59-50 lead at the break.
The Clippers opened the third quarter strong and went ahead 69-68 on a dunk by Collins. Denver responded with a 10-3 run to lead by six and took a 92-80 edge heading into the fourth.
UP NEXT
The Clippers play at Phoenix on Sunday at 5 p.m. PT.