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Nikola Jokic Scores 55, Nuggets Win 6th Straight, Beat Clippers 130-116/ TezzBuzz/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Nikola Jokic erupted for 55 points to match the NBA’s highest-scoring game this season and led the Denver Nuggets to a 130-116 win over the Los Angeles Clippers. The reigning MVP added 12 rebounds and narrowly missed a triple-double. The Clippers, still missing key stars, dropped their sixth consecutive game.

Jokic’s 55-Point Night Powers Nuggets: Quick Looks

• Jokic scores 55 points, ties NBA season high
• Nuggets extend winning streak to six games
• Jokic adds 12 rebounds, shoots 78% from field
• Misses triple-double by four assists (six total)
• Clippers fall to 3-8 with sixth straight loss
• James Harden scores 23 for depleted Clippers
• L.A. plays without Kawhi Leonard, loses Beal for season
• Nuggets pull away after close first half
• Jokic scores 25 in first quarter, dominates third
• Nuggets face Timberwolves next; Clippers head to Dallas

Nikola Jokic Scores 55, Nuggets Win 6th Straight, Beat Clippers 130-116

Deep Look

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Nikola Jokic delivered one of the most dominant performances of the season Wednesday night, scoring 55 points and grabbing 12 rebounds to lead the Denver Nuggets to a 130-116 win over the short-handed Los Angeles Clippers. The victory marked Denver’s sixth straight, as the defending champions continue to climb in the Western Conference standings.

Jokic’s 55-point outing tied Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s league-high for the season, which he set in a double-overtime thriller on October 23. But Jokic accomplished his feat in regulation — and with remarkable efficiency.

The two-time MVP was nearly unstoppable, finishing 18-for-23 from the field, 5-for-6 from beyond the arc, and 14-for-16 at the free-throw line. He scored 25 points in the opening quarter alone, outpacing the entire Clippers roster early. After adding eight in the second and dominating the third with 19 more, Jokic sat for much of the final period before adding three late points to complete his night.

He came just four assists short of his league-leading seventh triple-double of the season, settling for six.

Clippers Shorthanded and Sliding

The Clippers were already reeling before the game and suffered another blow when it was announced earlier in the day that Bradley Beal will miss the remainder of the season with a fractured hip. Kawhi Leonard remained sidelined with a foot and ankle sprain, leaving James Harden to shoulder the offensive load.

Harden led the team with 23 points, going 10-for-10 from the free-throw line, and added eight rebounds and five assists. Rookie Jordan Miller added a career-best 22 points off the bench, and Ivica Zubac contributed 18, but it wasn’t enough to keep pace with Jokic and the Nuggets.

Despite Jokic’s explosive start, the Clippers showed early resilience. After trailing by 10 in the first quarter, they surged ahead and held a 68-63 lead at halftime. But Jokic took over in the third, initiating two personal 6-0 scoring runs and turning the game in Denver’s favor for good.

The Nuggets outscored the Clippers 43-22 in the third quarter to take a 106-90 lead into the final frame, where they cruised to victory.

What’s Next

Denver, now one of the hottest teams in the league, will face a tough road test against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night. Meanwhile, the Clippers open a challenging seven-game road trip with an NBA In-Season Tournament matchup in Dallas on Friday night.

With stars sidelined and their losing streak growing, Los Angeles will need to regroup quickly to prevent their season from slipping further away.

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