Clippers fumble the ball and the game in overtime loss in Game 1

DENVER -- In a game where the Clippers got 32 points from James Harden, 22 points from Kawhi Leonard and 21 points by Ivica Zubac, it was the turnovers that was their downfall. 

The Clippers lost in overtime after leading by as much as 15, with the 20 turnovers being the back breaker. The Nuggets scored 29 points off of those turnovers and that was the catalyst for Denver's turnaround in the second quarter. 

A 21-7 run for the Clippers in the first quarter had them up by double digits but every time the Clippers felt like they were going to pull away, a Nuggets run ensued. 

Nikola Jokic did his thing despite some early struggles, tallying 29 points 9 rebounds and 12 assists, with 3 steals and a block on the defensive end. If the Clippers are going to win the series, they will either have to slow down Jokic or the supplementary pieces for the Nuggets. 

You cannot usually take out both, but the problem on Saturday afternoon was the role players for Denver. 

Aaron Gordon scored 25 points and 8 rebounds while playing excellent defense on the perimeter. Jokic's running mate Jamal Murray was dormant in the first half, but showed why he is an NBA champion in the second half. 

Murray finished with 21 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists in a complete effort for Denver. 

On the Clippers side, it was not about the shooting. Kawhi Leonard scored 22 points on 9-for-15 shooting, but had 7 turnovers including a late steal from Jamal Murray. 

Leonard was fantastic when he was aggressive, but too often he tried to pass the ball out of a double team and turned it over. 

James Harden was also fantastic, with a 32 point and 11 assist game on 11-for-22 shooting. Harden was able to keep the turnovers down to 2, and kept the Clippers in the game with a floater to tie the game and a deep three pointer to cut the deficit to one. 

Even with those two performances, and Ivica Zubac having a 21 point and 13 rebound effort while trying to keep tabs on Jokic, the Clippers did not get a good game out of their bench. 

Outside of Nico Batum who had multiple clutch three pointers, Bogdan Bogdanovic did not score and Derrick Jones Jr. scored only 4 points. 

With those two and Norman Powell combining for only 16 points, it is going to be difficult for the Clippers to win the non-Jokic minutes. 

Postgame, it was the same sentiment from both Ty Lue and the Clipper players: they need to take care of the ball, but they shot themselves in the foot. 

Now, the Clippers will look to even the series at 1-1 in the second game of the series on Monday. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m. PT.