From the very start, tensions ran high as Jokic and Clippers coach Tyron Lue exchanged heated words at half court. With 8:14 left in the game, the Clippers found themselves in foul trouble—14 fouls already on the board—forcing them to navigate a precarious situation against the relentless Nuggets. Jokic, a master at drawing fouls, capitalized on the Clippers’ mistakes, earning crucial free throws that could tip the scales in Denver’s favor.