Mathurin shines in home debut, Clippers beat Nuggets

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — The buzz of NBA All-Star Weekend had barely settled inside Intuit Dome when the Clippers were thrust back into the grind Thursday night. What followed was a one-point thriller — and a statement — as the Clippers edged the Denver Nuggets 115-114 in front of a roaring home crowd.

For a building that just hosted the league’s brightest stars, it was fitting that a new one may have been born in Inglewood.

Bennedict Mathurin announced himself to Clippers fans in emphatic fashion.

Acquired at the trade deadline in a deal that sent Ivica Zubac out of Los Angeles, Mathurin delivered a dazzling home debut, pouring in 38 points off the bench — tying a career high in just his third game with the team. He was electric from the opening tip and fearless in the closing moments, looking every bit like a player who had been in Tyronn Lue’s system for years.

Mathurin talked postgame about his new coach.

“He might end up being my best friend. I feel like he really knows my game. He really knows what I can do. Glad to have him as a coach. We can do a lot of great things.”

With 35.6 seconds remaining and the Clippers clinging to a slim lead, Mathurin drove hard to the rim, absorbed contact and calmly knocked down two free throws to put the Clippers ahead 109-107. On the ensuing possession, three-time MVP Nikola Jokic misfired, and the Clippers capitalized. Derrick Jones Jr. — who finished with 22 points — sank two critical free throws to stretch the cushion and force Denver into desperation mode.

It nearly wasn’t enough.

As time expired in regulation, Jamal Murray rose for a three-pointer and was fouled by Jones Jr., sending him to the line with a chance to tie. Murray knocked down the first two but missed the third, and Intuit Dome exhaled in unison as the final horn sounded.

The Clippers’ defense on Jokic proved pivotal. After dropping a career-high 55 points in this building back in November, Jokic was held to 22 points and 17 rebounds, going 0-for-6 from beyond the arc. Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue has often called Jokic “the best player in the world,” and Thursday’s game plan reflected a commitment to crowding the Serbian star and living with contested shots.

Murray led Denver’s late push, finishing with 20 points, eight rebounds and eight assists, but it was Mathurin who stole the spotlight.

His 38 points marked the most ever in a Clippers home debut by a reserve, surpassing the previous mark of 29 set by Jamal Crawford in 2012. The moment never looked too big. The stage never seemed too bright.

Kawhi Leonard quietly delivered 23 points, four rebounds and three assists in 33 steady minutes, while John Collins chipped in 11 points and 12 rebounds to anchor the interior in Zubac’s absence.

For a team that underwent significant roster changes at the deadline, the cohesion has come quickly. The Clippers have now won four of their last five games, stacking quality victories over Minnesota, Houston and now Denver — a Western Conference contender that rarely gives games away.

But Thursday wasn’t given. It was taken.

Mathurin’s energy, his downhill aggression and his confidence late transformed what could have been a post-All-Star lull into one of the most memorable regular-season nights at Intuit Dome.

And there’s no time to savor it.

The Clippers head across town for a back-to-back showdown Friday night against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena — another spotlight, another test.