The 2025 NBA playoffs will feature a Western Conference Game 3 between the No. 4 seed Denver Nuggets and No. 5 seed LA Clippers on Thursday. The first-round best-of-seven series is currently tied 1-1.
The Clippers, who lost Game 1 in overtime, evened their series against the Nuggets with a 105-102 victory in Denver on Monday. The standout performances of Kawhi Leonard, who led the Clippers with 39 points, and James Harden, who added 18 points and seven rebounds, have set the stage for an electrifying Game 3. The series now shifts to Los Angeles, where the Clippers will enjoy home court advantage.
Despite the loss, MVP finalist Nikola Jokic’s stellar performance, recording 26 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists, and Jamal Murray’s 23 points for the Nuggets, were standout moments. However, their efforts were overshadowed by the team’s 20 turnovers and eight missed free throws.
Follow along with USA TODAY Sports for live updates and highlights from Game 3 between the Nuggets and Clippers:
Kawaii Leonard stats
Kawhi Leonard has been limited to five points and an assist in 10 minutes of play for the Clippers. He has shot 2-for-5 from the field and 1-for-3 from the three-point line.
Clippers vs. Nuggets first quarter update
Aaron Gordon has scored 11 of the Nuggets’ first 20 points with 7:01 left in the first quarter against the Clippers, but was a non-factor for the rest of the quarter.
James Harden led the Clippers with 13 points while Kawhi Leonard was limited to five points in the period.
The Nuggets led the Clippers for the first 10:30 of the quarter before Harden gave L.A. the 29-28 lead. The Clippers pulled away with a 35-28 lead after Harden and Nicolas Batum scored back-to-back three-pointers in the final minute..
Clippers’ starting lineup vs. Nuggets in Game 3
Norman Powell
Kawhi Leonard
Ivica Zubac
Kris Dunn
James Harden
Nuggets’ starting lineup vs. Clippers in Game 3
Michael Porter Jr.
Aaron Gordon
Nikola Jokić
Christian Braun
Jamal Murray
Clippers-only fan section ready to horse around
Members of the Wall, which is the Clippers-only fan section called the Intuit Dome, found a horse mask at their seats to wear before the game. Nuggets star Nikola Jokić is known to have a love and passion for horses and harness racing.
What time is Nuggets vs. Clippers?
Game 3 of the NBA playoff series between the Denver Nuggets and LA Clippers is at 10 p.m. ET on Thursday, April 24.
How to watch Nuggets vs. Clippers: Time, TV, streaming info
Time: 10 p.m. ET
TV: NBA TV
Stream: Fubo
Location: Intuit Dome (Inglewood, CA)
Watch Nuggets vs. Clippers with a free trial of Fubo
Aaron Gordon stats
Aaron Gordon averaged 14.7 points in the regular season, shooting 53.1% from the field and a career-high 43.6% from three in 51 games (42 starts). He also averaged 4.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists. Through two games in the 2025 NBA playoffs, Gordon is averaging 19.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.0 assist.
Michael Porter Jr. will play in Game 3
Porter is officially a go for Game 3. He’s coming off a 15-point, 15-rebound double-double performance in Denver’s Game 2 loss on Monday, following a mere three points in the team’s Game 1 win on Saturday.
Will Michael Porter Jr. play in Game 3?
Michael Porter Jr. is listed as questionable for Game 3 on Thursday due to a left shoulder sprain. Porter suffered the injury during the closing minutes of Denver’s 105-102 loss to the Clippers in Game 2 on Monday. He dove for a loose ball and the Clippers’ Kris Dunn fell on him while attempting to do the same. Following the game, Porter said he “never felt a pain like this” and noted that he suffered a “joint sprain.”
On Wednesday, interim head coach David Adelman said he’s ‘very optimistic’ Porter will suit up on Thursday. ‘I don’t think he gets enough credit for how tough he is and what he’s played through over these years. His pain threshold is something that people don’t understand, don’t get, that he deals with all year long…If Mike can play he will.’
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