The two-time league MVP and the defending NBA champions would be an unusual combination for most coaches. But that’s exactly what Clippers coach Tyronn Lue did in the lead-up to Thursday’s game against the Nuggets.

The opportunity to face the champions should never be passed up, according to Lue. Plus, Nikola Jokic, better known as Joker, is an excellent player and a formidable opponent. Observing him play is fantastic.

The Clippers, without Kawhi Leonard, had a tough time containing the Nuggets and fell behind by 17 points at halftime, so Lue could not have been in the best of moods.

Surpassing Jokic’s 36-point triple-double and ending a five-game home losing run, they rode out a strong defensive performance in the second half and played with an enthusiasm that has been lacking at Crypto.com Arena recently to secure a 102-100 triumph.

A difficult task, though.

Zubac failed to make a layup attempt with 1 minute and 46 seconds left in the game, and Denver pulled within 102–100 on a 3-pointer by Jokic. Aaron Gordon lost possession of the ball with 33.1 seconds left, allowing the Clippers an opportunity to extend their lead.

The ball was returned to the Nuggets after James Harden’s failed 3-point attempt with five seconds remaining. Afterwards, Jokic tried a last-second 3-pointer, but he missed. Time was running out.

With 3:51 remaining in the third quarter, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s 3-pointer brought the Nuggets within two, 94-92. The team started to gradually close the 11-point lead in the third quarter. Denver further closed the gap to 98-97 on free throws by Jokic with 1:46 left.

But the Nuggets (53-24) couldn’t complete the comeback.

Leonard missed his second consecutive game and eighth this season, because of right knee soreness and his status for Friday’s game against the Utah Jazz was yet to be determined.

Sitting Leonard, who has had surgery on the knee in 2021, could be a precautionary move considering Thursday’s game was the start of a five-in-seven run. The All-Star wing has played 68 games this season, the most he’s played since his 2016-17 All-Star season,

While the Clippers missed Leonard’s team-leading 23.7 points per game in Tuesday’s loss to the Sacramento Kings, Thursday was a different story.

They had four players in double figures, led by Paul George, who had 28 points and four rebounds. Harden finished with 20 points on 6-for-23 shooting (2 for 13 from 3-point range) to go with eight assists and six rebounds. Russell Westbrook added 12 points and six assists, while Zubac had 14 points and 15 rebounds.

Norman Powell added 11 points.

Denver is a team the Clippers have had trouble with, having lost two of the first three meetings this season. And that certainly was the case early as the Clippers failed to find an offensive groove in the first 12 minutes.

Whatever Lue told them between quarters seemed to shake them out of their malaise as Powell, Westbrook and Amir Coffey got the Clippers back into the game with a 8-0 run to pull within 31-30 with 9:53 left in the first half.

The Clippers’ bench outscored the Nuggets’ bench 21-0 in the first half and 34-9 for the game.

Then Harden got hot, ending the hand-wringing about his recent lack of scoring. He buried a 3-pointer and then scored a 3-point play to give the Clippers a 40-37 lead.

In between two 3-pointers and a layup by Jokic, Harden added a 10-foot jumper, three foul shots after being fouled on a 3-point attempt that pushed the Clippers ahead at 48-46 with one minute left before halftime. Harden added a 3-pointer and George to close out the half ahead, 53-49.

Harden had 14 of his points in the first half.

The Nuggets, having already clinched a playoff spot, were led by Jokic, who had his 24th triple-double of the season, posting 36 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists.

The Nuggets were without star guard Jamal Murray, who sat out the game because of inflammation in his right knee, but Denver had plenty of others who picked up the slack.

But Denver had to finish the game without Coach Michael Malone, who got ejected with 7:54 left after walking on the court to argue with the officials, drawing two technical fouls.