Bennedict Mathurin scores 38 in home debut as Clippers edge Nuggets

Bennedict Mathurin scored 38 points in his home debut for the Clippers, and they held off the Denver Nuggets 115-114 on Thursday night.

Denver’s Jamal Murray had a chance to tie it on three free throws with 0.9 seconds remaining after a foul by Derrick Jones Jr. Murray made the first two before missing the third, with time expiring on the rebound.

Kawhi Leonard added 23 points and Jones had 22 to help the Clippers (27-28) improve to 21-7 since Dec. 20. Both teams were coming off the All-Star break.

Mathurin, acquired from Indiana at the trade deadline, finished 12 of 22 from the field, while Leonard made eight of 18 and scored at least 20 points for the 34th straight game.

Nikloa Jokic scored 22 points and 17 rebounds for Denver (35-21). Murray scored 20 points, Bruce Brown 19 and Cam Johnson and Julian Strawther added 18 each.

Denver was without Aaron Gordon (hamstring) for the 10th straight game, while Peyton Watson (hamstring) missed the last four.

Tempers flared with 10:27 remaining when the Clippers’ Yanic Konan Niederhauser, Kris Dunn and Mathurin tangled with the Nuggets’ Jonas Valanciunas under the Denver basket after a free throw.

Dunn, Mathurin and Valanciunas all received technical fouls, with Denver making a free throw for an 83-83 tie.

The Nuggets tied it 107-107 with 46 seconds remaining on an inside shot from Jokic. The Clippers took a four-point lead on free throws from Mathurin and Jones, but Murray dunk and made a three before drawing a foul from Jones on a final attempt from beyond the arc.