The first-round NBA Playoff clash between Tyronn Lue’s Los Angeles Clippers and Denver Nuggets has delivered some of the most thrilling basketball of the postseason so far. While Ivica Zubac can hold his own physically against Nikola Jokic, actually stopping the two-time MVP is another matter entirely. Jokic’s footwork and touch remain unmatched, and he’s now averaging a triple-double in the series. When asked about the challenge of defending Jokic, Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue didn’t overcomplicate it—he kept his answer short and to the point.
“We’ll see,” Lue said.
Tyronn Lue on his plans for Nikola Jokic now that he’s averaging a triple double for the series:
Ty Lue: “We'll see. We'll see tomorrow.” 😏
“What does that entail, we'll see?”
“We'll see.”
(via @TomerAzarly) pic.twitter.com/zWjw5rxGcY
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) April 28, 2025
Everyone in the arena expected Nikola Jokic to take the final shot. He received the inbound, dribbled toward the three-point line, and launched a fading jumper despite being double-teamed. The shot missed, but Aaron Gordon had already battled for position under the rim, grabbed the rebound, and threw down a putback dunk just as time expired.
After a lengthy review, officials confirmed the basket counted, sealing the win for the Nuggets and evening the series at 2-2. Jokic delivered another monster performance, racking up 36 points, 21 rebounds, and eight assists.
Tyronn Lue has already experimented with different strategies to challenge Jokic in this series. While he initially matched Ivica Zubac’s minutes with Jokic’s in Game 1, he later adjusted by staggering their time on the floor.
Tyronn Lue, Clippers throwing everything at Nikola Jokic
This allowed Jokic to face Ben Simmons at the five in small-ball lineups. As a result, the Nuggets were forced to counter with DeAndre Jordan as their backup center when Jokic rested, rather than leaning into their preferred small-ball setup with Aaron Gordon at center.
In Game 4, the Nuggets countered by keeping Jokic on the floor for the entire second half. In response, Tyronn Lue threw a wrinkle at them with a creative zone defense that disrupted Denver’s rhythm and helped the Clippers rally. Ultimately, though, Aaron Gordon’s last-second putback sealed the win for the Nuggets.
The Nuggets have yet to see a truly iconic performance from Jokic this series, so returning to Denver with things knotted at 2-2 puts them in a strong position. Meanwhile, Russell Westbrook’s status for Game 5 is still uncertain. His relentless energy—especially his impact on the offensive boards—has been a key part of the Clippers’ success off the bench.
The Clippers hit the road for Game 5, aiming to steal another win on hostile ground after edging out a 105-102 victory in Game 3. Tip-off is set for 10 p.m. ET on Tuesday night, with the winner poised to seize a pivotal 3-2 lead in the series.
