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Victor Petkov
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Clippers dominate Nuggets in Game 3 blowout to take series lead
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Kawhi Leonard led the charge with 21 points and 11 rebounds, Jokic triple-double wasn't enough for Denver

After two nail-biting matchups to start the series, the Los Angeles Clippers returned home and sent a message with a dominant 117-83 win over the Denver Nuggets in Game 3 of their first-round playoff clash. The victory at the brand-new Intuit Dome gives the Clippers a 2-1 series lead.

Kawhi Leonard led the charge with 21 points and 11 rebounds, showing his usual calm dominance. James Harden and Norman Powell each contributed 20 points in what was also the first playoff game ever held at the Clippers’ state-of-the-art Inglewood arena.

Coach Tyronn Lue was quick to keep the win in perspective: “It ain’t over because we had a blowout,” he said. “We got to come and validate that.”

The atmosphere was electric at the Intuit Dome, especially in The Wall section, where Clippers fans added a personal touch by wearing horse hats to poke fun at Nikola Jokic’s well-known affection for horses. Harden praised the crowd energy:

“It was crackin’. It was loud. Just how I expected it to be. That’s one of the reasons why we jumped out to a huge lead.”

Los Angeles set the tone early, pulling away after the first quarter and never looking back. The game was essentially decided by the fourth quarter, with both teams emptying their benches in the final minutes.

Despite the blowout, Jokic put up another stellar stat line: 23 points, 13 rebounds, and 13 assists — his second triple-double of the series. Jamal Murray also added 23 points, but the Nuggets struggled to match the Clippers’ energy and pace.

Game 4 is set for Saturday night at the same venue, where billionaire owner Steve Ballmer was seen visibly fired up throughout the game. The Clippers now have a chance to push the defending champs to the brink of elimination — if they can “validate” their Game 3 statement.