Jamal Murray (20 points) returns as Nuggets upset Clippers

Jamal Murray scored 20 points in his return from a hamstring injury, and Michael Porter Jr. added 17 as the Denver Nuggets won back-to-back games for the first time in a month with a 120-98 victory over the visiting Los Angeles Clippers on Friday.

Nikola Jokic scored 16 points, while Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson each added 14 as the Nuggets won for the first time in three tries against the Clippers. After scoring a combined 104 points in the previous two games without Murray, Jokic let others carry the burden as he had a season low.

It was the second of three games between the teams in Denver this season in a contest that was added to the schedule after the NBA Cup group stage was completed.

Kevin Porter Jr. and Norman Powell each scored 16 points as the Clippers lost their third straight game.

James Harden scored 15 points and Ivica Zubac added 13 points with 13 rebounds for Los Angeles, which welcomed Kawhi Leonard (knee) back to practice this week, but the star is still not ready to make his season debut.

The Clippers built a 55-50 lead early in the second half before the Nuggets pulled back ahead 59-58 less than five minutes into the third quarter. Denver took charge from there, going on a 14-2 run to take a 73-60 lead.

The Nuggets led 83-69 entering the final quarter and got 12 points from Michael Porter in the third period while the team shot 57.9 percent from the floor.

The Nuggets took their first 20-point lead at 98-78 with 7:44 left on two free throws from Watson and cruised to victory from there.

After a slow start, the Clippers posted an 18-0 run in the second quarter to take a 44-38 lead. The Nuggets surged back in front and led 48-47 at halftime behind nine points and five rebounds from both Jokic and Gordon.

In his third game this season against his former team, Denver’s Russell Westbrook had five points and five assists in 24 minutes off the bench.

–Field-level media