DENVER — Jamal Murray had 21 points and nine assists, Russell Westbrook added 19 points and eight assists and the Denver Nuggets beat the Clippers 126-103 on Wednesday night in a matchup of short-handed teams.

Nuggets center Nikola Jokic was out for the second straight game due to an illness. Denver is 2-3 without him this season.

Norman Powell scored 30 points to finish with a 27.6 average in the Clippers’ four games against the Nuggets. James Harden had 16 points and Ivica Zubac added 10.

Denver took control with a 20-3 run in the first quarter and led 55-30 late in the second before the Clippers cut it to 16 at halftime.

The Nuggets used another spurt midway through the third quarter to put it away.

Leonard leaves team to join evacuated family in L.A.

Clippers star Kawhi Leonard flew home to Los Angeles on Wednesday to be with family members who have been impacted by the devastating wildfires in the area, according to multiple reports. His family members reportedly have been evacuated from their homes.

“You definitely have to take care of home. ... Totally had my support 100%,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “Going back, checking on his family and kids, making sure they’re well. And he got back, and they’re doing OK, so just happy and thankful for that.”

Leonard, who bought a house in Pacific Palisades in 2021, recently returned to the lineup after missing the first 34 games of the season because of lingering issues with his surgically repaired knee. He has played in two games and has averaged 10 points in 20 minutes per game.

Lakers coach JJ Redick and his family, who live in Pacific Palisades, also were evacuated, he told reporters on Tuesday.

Tens of thousands of people have been forced out of their homes because of three wind-driven wildfires that had burned more than 20,000 acres as of Wednesday in three L.A.-area cities, More than 1,000 homes and businesses have been destroyed by the rapidly spreading fires in Pacific Palisades, the foothills above Pasadena and in Sylmar.