The Denver Nuggets hadn’t been able to get a victory yet in Las Vegas and faced an opponent trying to remain undefeated and get a bid into the SL elimination tournament in the Los Angeles Clippers. Daron Holmes II and Spencer Jones got Denver a huge lead before L.A. made a big run late behind Jordan Miller and Patrick Bladwin Jr. Unfortunately for them they ran out of time and the Nuggets held on to get their first win 81-76.

Both teams struggled to score points early while they played stout defense. Tamar Bates and Holmes were active and built an early lead with help from E.J. Liddell. Holmes was active on the glass and Curtis Jones heated up to lead a 12-0 run. The Nuggets stopped their momentum on their own by continuously fouling while Miller accounted for the Clippers first eight points. They’d only muster a total of eleven all quarter long and Denver ended the first leading 23-11.

Cam Christie opened the second quarter scoring for L.A. but the Nuggets got points from Jones and maintained a double-digit lead. The offenses cooled off again as the second quarter progressed. Jones continued to not see a shot he didn’t like and Holmes stayed dominant on the glass. DaRon had a double double in the first half while the lead creeped up near twenty. The lid completely covered the basket on the Clippers, they couldn’t even convert fast break opportunities. Spencer Jones got into the three point shooting act and the Nuggets finished the half leading 46-27.

Holmes continued his good play out of the locker room, getting Denver’s first five points. Trentyn Flowers had a couple buckets for L.A., who desperately needed more scorers. The Nuggets stayed up a couple dozen with Holmes and one player or another named Jones doing the majority of the scoring. It got sloppy after that. Denver’s subs came in and the offense stalled out. The Clippers started cutting into the lead and went on an 8-0 run to close out the quarter. After three the Nuggets were up 70-54.

Baldwin had a solid second half and helped keep the Clippers within striking distance at the start of the fourth quarter. Denver’s offense slowed down again. Bates got a couple buckets but no one else could make a shot. With the Nuggets stalling L.A. put together a run with their usual suspects: Miller, Baldwin, Flowers & Christie. They kept chipping away but weren’t consistent enough to keep from running into a time crunch. After a three from Miller the lead was back down to single digits with just over two minutes to go. Denver couldn’t buy a bucket and the Clippers comeback bid got within three points after Spencer Jones fouled Christie on a three point shot with a minute to go. The Nuggets did everything they could to give L.A. the game but the Clippers couldn’t convert. A big block from Liddell sealed it for Denver and they get their first Summer League win 81-76.