Clippers' Mathurin explodes for 38 points in home debut

Rookie forward Bennedict Mathurin leads Clippers to win over Nuggets with record-setting performance

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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Bennedict Mathurin, the rookie forward recently acquired by the LA Clippers, made a sensational home debut on Thursday night, scoring a franchise-record 38 points to lead the Clippers to a victory over the Denver Nuggets. Mathurin came off the bench to spark the Clippers' offense, hitting 12 of 22 shots and 12 of 13 free throws.

Why it matters

Mathurin's breakout performance is a promising sign for the Clippers, who are looking to make a deep playoff run this season. The young forward's ability to take over a game and provide a scoring punch off the bench could be a key factor in the Clippers' success down the stretch.

The details

Mathurin checked into the game midway through the third quarter with the Clippers trailing the Nuggets 13-4. He immediately made an impact, scoring 11 points in the first quarter to help the Clippers get back into the game. Mathurin continued his hot shooting throughout the night, finishing with 38 points, the most ever by a Clippers player in their home debut. Kawhi Leonard also had a strong game for the Clippers, scoring 23 points, but it was Mathurin who stole the show.

  • Mathurin checked into the game midway through the third quarter.

The players

Bennedict Mathurin

A rookie forward recently acquired by the LA Clippers, who had a record-setting performance in his home debut, scoring 38 points to lead the Clippers to a win over the Denver Nuggets.

Kawhi Leonard

The Clippers' star forward, who scored 23 points in the game but was limited by the Nuggets' defense.

Tyronn Lue

The head coach of the LA Clippers, who encouraged Mathurin to be more aggressive after a passive debut the previous week.

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What they’re saying

“The conversation we had was in the first game in Houston. I thought he came out really passive, turned down some shots, wasn't aggressive. I pulled him to the side during a timeout and told him, 'you've got to be aggressive, you've got to be who you are, and we'll figure out the rest.' We needed it every bit of it tonight.”

— Tyronn Lue, Head Coach, LA Clippers (ClutchPoints)

“Man, it's going to be awesome [playing for Tyronn Lue]. He might end up being my best friend. He told me to be aggressive, man. He told me to be myself, and I feel like he really knows my game. He really knows what I can do. So glad to have him as a coach. And I think that bringing everybody along, we can do a lot of great things.”

— Bennedict Mathurin (ClutchPoints)

What’s next

The Clippers will look to build on Mathurin's strong performance when they take on the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night.

The takeaway

Bennedict Mathurin's breakout game in his home debut for the Clippers showcases the team's depth and potential, as the young forward's scoring punch off the bench could be a key factor in the team's playoff push.