LAS VEGAS — The Clippers dug themselves a considerable first-half hole and saw their bid for a spot in the NBA Summer League semifinals end with an 81-76 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night at the Thomas & Mack Center.
The Clippers (3-1), who needed a blowout win to advance, trailed by 10 points after the first quarter and by 19 at halftime before staging a second-half rally that got them within three points with 1:08 left. Cam Christie missed a 3-point attempt with four seconds left, and the Nuggets (1-3) made a pair of free throws to close out the win.
Jordan Miller had 23 points on 6-of-13 shooting to go with 14 rebounds and four assists in 35 minutes to lead the Clippers. Patrick Baldwin Jr. added 16 points, six rebounds, three steals and three blocked shots in 27 minutes, while Christie had 16 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals. Trentyn Flowers added 12 points and five assists.
Neither team shot the ball well, with the Clippers shooting 36% overall and the Nuggets at 38.7%. The Clippers hoisted 38 shots from behind the arc but made just nine, with Christie (6 for 17 overall, 2 for 10 from 3-point range) and Flowers (5 for 19 overall, 2 for 11 from deep) struggling to find their range.
Second-year forward/center DaRon Holmes II continued a strong summer showing for the Nuggets with 19 points on 8-of-16 shooting to go with 16 rebounds, five assists and two steals. Spencer Jones added 17 points, six assists, three steals and two blocks and Tamar Bates contributed 11 points, seven assists and two steals.
The Clippers will conclude their summer league schedule against the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday at 5 p.m.