Los Angeles Clippers vs Denver Nuggets Prediction
| Game Time | 9:00 pm EST |
| Los Angeles Clippers Line | -2.5 |
| Denver Nuggets Line | +2.5 |
| Total | 228 |
| TV: | NBA TV |
Below is a detailed analysis for Los Angeles Clippers vs Denver Nuggets game.
PREGAME WARM-UP:
In this high caliber Western battle between two of the top-7 teams currently in the conference, the Denver Nuggets are hosting the Los Angeles Clippers. The Nuggets are on the second leg of a home back-to-back, and have been playing good basketball lately, as they have lost just once in their last five matches, but have listed Nikola Jokic as questionable due to an illness. On the other hand, the Clippers are currently in a mini slump, as they have won only once in their last four games, and are playing their second straight game on the road, where they have been significantly worse than at home.
Los Angeles Clippers vs Denver Nuggets Prediction
Denver Nuggets Injury Report: Spencer Jones, Aaron Gordon are questionable, Daron Holmes and Vlatko Cancar are out
Los Angeles Clippers Injury Report: Kobe Brown is questionable, Terance Mann, PJ Tucker are out
Denver Nuggets Form and Trends
The Nuggets have a 20-14 record this season and are sitting on the 4th place of the West. Denver is 15-18-1 against the spread and 21-12-1 in over/under, while having a 10-6 home record. Denver is 4-1 in their last 5 games, and 4-1 against the spread. Over is 4-2 in their last 6 games.
Denver is coming off a 122-111 win in San Antonio, as they shot with just 44% from the field, but held the Spurs into just 39%. Nikola Jokic dominated the Spurs with a game-high 46 points, adding 9 rebounds and a team-high 10 assists.
Jokic leads Denver in scoring with an average of 31.5 points, in rebounding with 13 and in assists made with 9.7. Jamal Murray adds 19.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 6.3 assists.
Los Angeles Clippers Form and Trends
The Los Angeles Clippers have a 20-16 record this season and are tied with the Mavs on the 6th place of the Western Conference. The Clippers are 21-14-1 against the spread and 13-23 in over/under, while having an 8-10 road record. The Clippers are 1-3 in their last 4 games and 6-4 against the spread in their last 10. Under is 7-1 in their last 8 games.
The Clippers are coming off a 106-108 loss in Minnesota, as they shot with just 41% from the field. Norman Powell and James Harden led the Clippers’ offense with 25 and 22 points respectively, as Kawhi Leonard struggled in his second game back in action, with just 8 points in 21 minutes.
Powell leads the Clips in scoring with 23.5 points and 3.4 rebounds, while James Harden adds 21.4 points, 6.1 rebounds and a team-high 8 assists.
Statistical Breakdown
Offensively, the Nuggets are averaging 120.8 points per game, which is the third-best in the NBA. Denver shoots with 49.8% from the field, which is the third-best in the NBA, and with 37.9% from beyond the arc, which is the 4th-best in the league. Defensively, they are allowing 117.2 points per game, which ranks 24th in the NBA.
Offensively, the Clippers are scoring 109.1 points per game, which is 23rd in the league. They shoot 46.6% from the field (13th) and 36.5% from beyond the arc (15th). Defensively, they rank 4th in the NBA, allowing 107.4 points per game.
The Clippers lead the Nuggets 2-1 wins this season, having won their previous meeting in LA with a 126-122 score. The Clippers are 4-1 against the spread in their last 5 meetings against the Nuggets, and under is 7-2-1 in their last 10 meetings.
Prediction
In this Los Angeles Clippers vs Denver Nuggets Prediction, the Clippers are coming as -2.5 road favorites. The Nuggets are rightfully favored in this spot, as they are in better form than the Clippers, who have been inefficient on the road. But Denver is not the second leg of a back-to-back, so I don’t feel safe laying the points with them. In terms of the point total, the Nuggets have been all about the over this season, while the Clippers all about the under. But with Denver having tired legs because of the back-to-back, I expect a slow and low scoring game tonight. Take the under the point total. Nick’s Free Pick: Under 228
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