INGLEWOOD, Calif. — A year ago in Minnesota, the Nuggets squandered their chance to close out a playoff series with a convincing absence of urgency. They lost by 45. They tempted fate, and fate crushed them in Game 7 back home.

Nikola Jokic delivered a strong message defending Kawhi Leonard following the Los Angeles Clippers' 117-83 win over the Denver Nuggets in Game 3 of the NBA Playoffs. The Denver Nuggets and Nikola Jokic struggled in a lopsided Game 3 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers at the Intuit Dome.

Nikola Jokic posted a solid triple-double for the Nuggets, scoring 23 points on 9-of-14 shooting, adding 13 rebounds and 13 assists. It wasn't nearly enough for Denver, though, as the blowout loss, at the hands of 18 Clippers 3-pointers, gives them a 2-1 deficit in the series.