The Denver Nuggets opened the 2025 NBA playoffs with an overtime win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday. The Nuggets won by a final score of 112-110 behind 29 points and 12 assists from three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, who shot 12-of-24 from the field, 1-of-4 from 3 and 4-of-6 from the free-throw line.

The Nuggets emerged with a 112-110 Game 1 overtime win over the Clippers after Nikola Jokic iced it with a pair of free throws with 6.5 seconds left. Russell Westbrook had made the decisive defensive play, knocking Nicolas Batum’s inbound pass out of bounds off a Clippers teammate to force a turnover in a three-point game.

With about 25 seconds left of regulation, Westbrook drained a monster three-pointer to give the Nuggets a two-point lead at the time. James Harden answered his shot with a jumper to tie the game at 98. Westbrook ended up with the ball again in the last four seconds, but he failed to get a shot up, forcing the game into overtime.