The biggest coaching decision of David Adelman’s short time as the Nuggets’ interim coach came in the final seconds of Monday’s 105-102 loss to the Clippers at Ball Arena.

The Nuggets had a timeout when Christian Braun grabbed a defensive rebound with 11 seconds left of a three-point game. A couple of things led Adelman to hold onto his final timeout.

“In transition, I thought we had a chance to get an open 3. Numbers were going the other way,” Adelman said. “Traditionally, they foul up 3. I thought we get the best opportunity (in transition).”

Braun quickly gave up the ball to Jamal Murray, who crossed half court and passed back to a wide-open Braun on the right wing. The third-year guard passed up a clean catch-and-shoot opportunity with 8.7 seconds left. Instead, Braun pump faked, forcing James Harden to fly by and lose his balance, took a dribble to his left and fired a 3 that was too strong. Nikola Jokic grabbed an offensive rebound, and Adelman again declined to stop the action.

“Off the offensive rebound, my first instinct was to call timeout,” Adelman said.

“Then, the ball came to Nikola, and I did not think we could get him a good catch, if they’re going to foul. If I call the timeout, we have none left after that, so it’s a tough situation.”

Jokic dribbled back outside the 3-point line and fired a contested 3 over Kawhi Leonard’s outstretched hand. Jokic’s try was short, and the Clippers stole home-court advantage by evening the series at a game apiece.

He backed his coach’s decision in the clutch.

“I think it was good. Especially in those situations, if you can advance the ball, I think that’s the right call,” Jokic said.

“If we call a timeout, they had a foul to give. Are we really going to have a lot of time?”

Leonard carried the Clippers to victory with 39 points. He made 15 of 19 shots, including a 4-for-7 mark from 3-point range, and was perfect on five free throws.

“Just got to give him a different look and not let him get to his spots,” Murray said. “That’s really what the game is about, getting to your spots. Tonight, he got to his spots, and even when we were there, he hit some tough shots. That’s what great players do.”

Harden added 18 points on 17 shots, while Norman Powell needed 14 shots to score 13 points.

The Nuggets got another triple-double from Jokic, who finished with 26 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists. Jokic also committed seven of Denver’s 20 turnovers.

Murray scored 23 points despite playing through an unspecified illness. He made 4 of 8 attempts from 3-point range and dished out six assists against four turnovers.

“I played through it. It was cool,” Murray said, hoarsely. “I’m sick, but it’s OK. No excuses.”

Michael Porter Jr. provided 15 points and 15 rebounds in a bounce-back performance, while Aaron Gordon and Russell Westbrook added 14 points apiece.

Adelman wouldn’t have had to make such a tough decision if a few other things went Denver’s way. The Nuggets went 14 of 22 from the free throw line. Gordon missed a dunk in the final three minutes with Denver down a point.

“I think I just rushed it,” Gordon said. “I had more time than I thought I did.”

The Clippers also enjoyed a 21-12 advantage in points off turnovers.

“Unfortunately, it didn’t work out,” Adelman said. “Looking back, if I watched the film, watched the tape, I have to see what the situation was on CB’s catch. Once he didn’t shoot, I could’ve called it. Maybe that’s the one thing I look back on, wondering maybe I should’ve called it there.”

CLIPPERS 105, NUGGETS 102

What happened: Denver led by six after the first quarter, but Kawhi Leonard’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer gave the Clippers a 55-52 lead at halftime. The Nuggets closed within two to start the fourth quarter and had two chances to tie the game at the buzzer.

What went right: Russell Westbrook led the Nuggets to another advantage in bench points. Westbrook’s 14 points matched the Clippers’ second unit combined, while Peyton Watson and Jalen Pickett combined for Denver’s five other bench points.

What went wrong: The Nuggets had no answer for Leonard in the first half. Leonard scored 21 points on 10 shots in the first two quarters. His only miss came from 3-point range. He didn’t miss his second shot until the final 10 minutes.

Highlight of the night: Roles were reversed in the final minutes of the first quarter. After grabbing a defensive rebound, Aaron Gordon heaved an outlet pass the length of the floor. The ball dropped right into Nikola Jokic’s outstretched hands, and Jokic gave the Nuggets a three-point lead with a fastbreak dunk.

Up next: The series shifts to Los Angeles for Thursday’s Game 3.