The Denver Nuggets entered their Thursday night contest against the Los Angeles Clippers with an opportunity to close out their first-round series in six games.

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.

Some muffled M-V-P chants reverberated throughout the arena. The score read: Nuggets 52, Clippers 38. Denver never trailed, despite an average game from Nikola Jokic (a 13-point triple-double). Westbrook was not the difference. But he was a reason for the relatively easy win.