The Denver Nuggets looked to defend homecourt in game two of the playoffs but the Los Angeles Clippers, and Kawhi Leonard, would not allow it. Leonard had an incredibly efficient night scoring which offset a triple double from Nikola Jokic. Kawhi went 15-19 for 39 points and looked every bit of his former Finals MVP self. It was a back and forth battle all night long but in the end it was L.A. and Leonard that had the last bucket and get the big win. The series now shifts to Los Angeles tied 1-1.

Baskets were hard to come by for both teams early in the game. A lone Jokic three was Denver’s only field goal for over two minutes. After that though, they got their offense running and scored seven straight points to take a small lead. The Nuggets were having Jokic pop instead of rolling to the basket and that kept Ivica Zubac out of the paint which made for some easy layups for cutters. Leonard kept the Clippers in the game almost single handedly and Denver couldn’t grow a lead. They got enough fast break points and putbacks to stay in front heading towards the end of the quarter. The bench group got in on the fast break action and stretched the lead to nine with under two minutes to play. The Clippers tightened up on defense to close and after one the Nuggets led 31-25.

Denver was sloppy to open the second quarter. A couple turnovers led to easy buckets and a 6-0 run by L.A. to tie the game. The Nuggets kept pouring it on though and wouldn’t let the Clippers get in front. On the other hand, Los Angeles kept hitting threes at key moments to prevent the Nuggets from pulling away. Denver got up six after a Gordon and-one but then Los Angeles went on a 9-0 run and took the lead for the first time in a while. Jokic was getting consistently triple teamed and that resulted in a mixture of turnovers and sweet passes for easy buckets. Eventually Jokic tied it back up with a three and that’s where the score stayed right up until the buzzer when Kawhi hit a buzzer beater three to cap off a huge half and give the Clippers a 55-52 lead.

Both offenses had success to open the third quarter. They traded baskets and the lead for the first several minutes with James Harden starting to knock down shots for the Clippers while Jokic finally started to get some points on Denver’s end. About midway through the quarter Jamal Murray and Norman Powell got into a scuffle where Jamal picked Norman up like a little child and that instigated some shoving. It resulted in two technical fouls to the Clippers and one to the Nuggets. Denver went cold as the quarter progressed and they got a tough whistle. Harden got the Clippers a lead that they pushed up to six with two minutes to go. The refs continued to feel themselves and call fouls on nearly everyone but a strong close from the Nuggets left them trailing 78-76 after three.

Jokic was still on the floor to open the fourth quarter and opened the final frame by knocking down a three. Leonard kept scoring for the Clippers which kept them in front for a while but they also kept daring Russell Westbrook to shoot corner threes and he made them pay. The game was neck and neck halfway through the fourth before Leonard once again hit a three and got the Clippers a brief lead. Denver responded, Michael Porter Jr. had some huge minutes and put the Nuggets in front by one with three and a half minutes to go. The teams continued to go back and forth like they had all game and were still tied until Powell hit a three with a minute and a half to go. The Nuggets got back within one but Leonard hit a clutch bucket in the closing minute and then Denver missed two three point attempts to tie. Nuggets lose game two 105-102 and head to Los Angeles with the series tied 1-1.