The key to the game? Well, the Clippers are a league-leading 33-2 when outscoring opponents in the first quarter.
The Clippers can usually rely on jumping out to a lead and having their bench not only hold the fort, but add to it. But when they face the Nuggets, they meet their match.
The Clippers lead the league in bench scoring (40.8 points per game) but Denver’s not far behind (40.0 percent). The Nuggets’ reserves are shooting 47.3 percent from the field, the Clippers 45.0 percent.