Clippers Fall to Nuggets on Buzzer-Beater, Series Tied as Playoff Drama Hits Inglewood

The Los Angeles Clippers suffered their first playoff loss at Inglewood’s Intuit Dome on Saturday night, falling to the Denver Nuggets 101-99 on a dramatic buzzer-beater. The defeat evens the playoff series at 2-2, with Game 5 scheduled for Tuesday night in Denver.

Despite a disappointing third quarter where they were outscored 35-17, the Clippers mounted an impressive fourth-quarter comeback that brought the Inglewood crowd to their feet. The team nearly completed what would have been one of the most remarkable comebacks in recent playoff history.

“The Intuit Dome crowd may have been even better than in Game 3, but the team wasn’t,” noted Mykell Mathieu, who covered the game. The electric atmosphere at Inglewood’s new arena has quickly established it as one of the most formidable home courts in the NBA.

Norman Powell sparked the fourth-quarter rally, making all three of his three-point attempts in the period, while Kawhi Leonard contributed 10 of his 24 points during the final frame. The Clippers briefly took a one-point lead after a Bogdan Bogdanovic layup, before Denver’s last-second heroics sealed the win.

The third quarter proved to be the difference-maker as the Clippers’ offense stalled, shooting just 5-for-18 from the field and 1-for-8 from three-point range. Meanwhile, Nuggets star Nikola Jokic dominated with 16 points, eight rebounds, and four assists in that quarter alone, silencing the normally raucous Inglewood crowd.

Despite the loss, the resilience shown by the Clippers offered a positive sign for local fans who have quickly embraced the team in their new Inglewood home. “Though they ultimately fell at the buzzer to the Nuggets, Los Angeles fought back, nearly making an all-time great comeback,” Mathieu observed.

The series now shifts back to Denver for Game 5, with the Clippers looking to recapture their winning form before returning to Inglewood for Game 6. Local businesses around the Intuit Dome reported strong pre-game and post-game patronage, continuing the positive economic impact the venue has brought to the community since opening earlier this season.

Game 6 is scheduled for Friday night in Inglewood, with local officials expecting another capacity crowd as the playoff series intensifies.