It would've been huge for the Denver Nuggets to send the series back to LA up 2-0, but that didn't happen on Monday. Instead, the Nuggets took a page out of the Clippers' book from Game 1, which resulted in a 105-102 Game 2 loss.
Los Angeles turned the ball over 20 times in Game 1 (subscription required), and Denver capitalized on that with 29 points in a 112-110 overtime win. The Nuggets finished with 11 turnovers.
Ironically, on Monday, the script flipped. The Clippers had 11 turnovers, and the Nuggets had 20. That wasn't the story of the game -- Kawhi Leonard's 39 points were -- but it did change things. You have to take care of the ball, especially when the game is on the line.
Nikola Jokic posted a 26-point, 12-rebound, 10-assist triple-double, but he also had seven turnovers. Leonard had a career-worst seven turnovers in Game 1 (he had only one in Game 2), so again, Denver adopted LA's poor habits.
Nuggets record 20 turnovers in 105-102 Game 2 loss to Clippers
The Nuggets and Clippers are evenly matched, which is what makes the series the best first-round matchup to watch. However, because of that, Denver can't afford to be careless.
Los Angeles was up, 96-92, with five minutes left to play. Jokic turned the ball over with a bad pass, and luckily, James Harden did the same on the other end. Jokic redeemed himself by getting the steal. Things didn't get better, though.
Aaron Gordon uncharacteristically missed a dunk, which led to Kawhi knocking down a shot at the other end. Jamal Murray hit a big three-pointer to tie the game at 100 with 2:07 left to play, and Leonard missed a three-pointer on the next possession. What happened then? Michael Porter. Jr. snagged the rebound, but proceeded to turn the ball over. Norman Powell stole it and knocked down a three off an assist from Kawhi.
Jokic was fouled by Ivica Zubac on the other end, putting the superstar at the line. He knocked down both free throws to put the Nuggets within one, 103-102. Kawhi responded (as he did all night) with a jumpshot to extend LA's lead to three, 105-102. Denver had the ball with less than a minute to play in what was one of the most important possessions of the night. Jokic turned it over.
The Nuggets got lucky as Harden missed a shot after Kawhi stole it, but Christian Braun and Jokic missed back-to-back threes to try to tie the game.
The silver lining is that Denver lost by only three points, even after the team's 20 turnovers and Kawhi's big night. That doesn't change the result of Game 2. Home-court advantage has shifted in the Clippers' favor with Games 3 and 4 at Intuit Dome. The Nuggets need to learn from their mistakes and put the result of Game 2 behind them before Game 3 tips off on Thursday, or else the Clippers will be riding the momentum of a 2-1 lead.