Nikola Jokic's 41-point game not enough as the Nuggets lose to the Clippers

Two days after Nikola Jokic bluntly said the Nuggets were “not a good shooting team,” he tried to take matters into his own hands.

His 41 points and a career-high seven 3-pointers still weren't enough in the 109-104 loss to the Clippers in their home opener Saturday afternoon at Ball Arena. With 14 seconds left, Denver trailed by three and Jokic tried to get a look at the top of the key, but he leaned into his shot and couldn't make contact as the ball missed left.

With 1:35 left, a collapsing Michael Porter Jr. missed an open 3 to feed the hot hand on the opposite wing. Jokic made the decision worthwhile, burying his seventh for a 101-100 Nuggets lead. But a red-hot Norman Powell delivered a game-winning three-pointer with 53 seconds left, and Michael Malone's unsuccessful foul call brought James Harden to the line for free throws with 31 to go. Jokic missed one of two foul shots when he was brought to the line with a chance to equalize.

Powell led the Clippers with 35 points on 7 of 11 shooting from long range. Harden added 21 points, including 12 at the foul line, while Ivica Zubac had 24 points and 15 rebounds. Murray scored 22 points for Denver.

After their worst 3-point shooting game of the Malone era (7 for 39), the Nuggets were on pace to outdo themselves early. They made just nine of their first 39 total field throws and shot 5-for-19 in the first half, outscoring them 30-10 in the lane.

“I know everyone says, 'Take shots!' But I felt before that our spacing was terrible at times,” Malone had told reporters 90 minutes before tipoff. “I mean, I just put the guys in the corner. Open the dish. Use the entire depth and width of the playing field. We're getting more organized, especially with our second unit, and letting Dario (Saric) be part of that offense. So we know that it will be difficult to integrate two new players in Russ (Westbrook) and Dario.”

Unlike Thursday, when Westbrook and Julian Strawther replaced Murray and Christian Braun as Denver's first subs, this time Strawther checked in alone – for Michael Porter Jr. Despite this immediate adjustment to Malone's rotations, the second unit dug a hole and was clearly struggling the chemistry and where on the floor should be positioned.