Nikola Jokic, Nuggets bounce back with win over Clippers

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Nikola Jokic bounced back from a rare poor shooting performance, scoring 30 points to lead the Denver Nuggets to a 127-115 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday night.

It was his supporting cast's performance that fired up coach Michael Malone, who smiled as he scanned the stat sheet and saw all five starters plus reserves Bones Hyland and Austin Rivers had scored in double figures.

"I'm extremely pleased," Malone said. "Yes, Nikola is an MVP, but this team with nine games to go, needs everybody to step their game up down the stretch and alleviate some of the pressure that's put on Nikola every night."

Denver had lost four of six, including a 124-104 home loss to the Celtics on Sunday night in which Jokic missed 15 shots and blamed himself for the defeat.

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Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic warms up for the team's NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday, March 22, 2022, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Against the Clippers, he was 9 of 15 from the floor — he also had two baskets that were waived off — and sank 12 of 13 free throws. He also pulled down a game-best 14 rebounds for his 59th double-double of the season.

The only thing worse than facing Jokic is facing Jokic coming off a bad game.

"For sure," Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. "He was the MVP last year and has a great chance to win it again this year. We knew he was going to play well. Usually don’t play bad two games in a row, so he came out played well, got his team going. That’s to be expected."

The Clippers, who got 24 points from Terance Mann, dropped their fourth straight game. They have