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.

Three-time MVP center Nikola Jokic led the way for Denver, but the unexpected hero was undoubtedly veteran point guard Russell Westbrook. Westbrook came up huge down the stretch for the Nuggets, making multiple game-changing plays to help take Denver over the hump.

The Nuggets emerged with a 112-110 Game 1 overtime win over the Clippers after Nikola Jokic iced it with a pair of free throws with 6.5 seconds left. Russell Westbrook had made the decisive defensive play, knocking Nicolas Batum’s inbound pass out of bounds off a Clippers teammate to force a turnover in a three-point game.