Turnovers bewilder Clippers en route to Game 1 loss

20 miscues for 29 points cost L.A. a shot at a road win.

(Photo credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images)

DENVER -- The LA Clippers could come to rue Saturday’s Game 1 wobble.

Leading by 15 points midway through the second quarter, it appeared the Clippers were on their way to a highly impressive road win to open their first-round series against the Denver Nuggets.

Instead, the Clippers coughed up the ball 20 times and, eventually, the game along with it as the Nuggets edged them 112-110 in overtime.

“I mean, I don’t know, I don’t know, I’m trying to figure it out too,” guard James Harden chuckled after being asked if the altitude and the fact it was the team’s first game in a week could have been factors in their 20 turnovers, of which 8 came in the fourth quarter and overtime.

Harden scored a game-high 32 points while registering 11 assists, 6 rebounds, and shooting 11 of 22 from the field in 43 minutes.

“Like, literally,” Harden continued, “trying to figure out what the hell was the reason for it. So, we’ll watch film, get better, and be ready to go for Game 2.”