Los Angeles Clippers (21-18) vs. Denver Nuggets (24-13)
January 5, 2023 10:00 pm EDT
The Line: Denver Nuggets -4.5; Over/Under: +224.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Los Angeles Clippers travel to the Ball Arena to do battle with the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night.
The Los Angeles Clippers have been a little below their best lately as they’ve lost four of their last six games and they will be hoping to put a halt to a three-game skid after losing to the Heat in a 110-100 loss on Monday. Paul George led the team with 25 points and seven assists, Marcus Morris added 14 points while Luke Kennard chipped in with 11 points off the bench. As a team, the Clippers shot 43 percent from the field and 12 of 29 from the 3-point line as they rallied with 34 points in the third quarter to overcome a 21-point deficit, but they went cold and managed just 17 points in the fourth quarter to allow the Heat to run away with it in the end.
Meanwhile, the Denver Nuggets have been in fine form as they’ve won 10 of their last 13 games overall, but they will be looking to bounce back here after getting routed by the Timberwolves in a 124-111 road loss on Monday. Nikola Jokic led the team with 24 points, seven rebounds and nine assists, Michael Porter Jr and Bones Hyland each scored 18 points while Jamal Murray chipped in with 14 points. As a team, the Nuggets shot 46 percent from the field and 11 of 29 from the 3-point line, but they just had no answer for the Timberwolves’ Jaden McDaniels and Anthony Edwards who combined for 50 points. Aaron Gordon had a mixed game as he tallied 12 points with 16 rebounds and six assists, but shot just four of 18 from the field.
Looking at the betting trends, the Clippers are 5-2 ATS in their last seven road games, 1-4 ATS in their last five games against a team with a winning record and 9-4 ATS in their last 13 games overall. The Nuggets are 4-1 ATS in their last five home games, 4-0 ATS in their last four games against a team with a winning record and 4-1 ATS in their last five games overall.
Head to head, the under is 36-16-2 in the last 54 meetings overall.
The Clippers are going to be shorthanded once again as Nicolas Batum is out while Paul George is listed as questionable. The Nuggets are almost at full strength for this one except for Jeff Green who is out with that hand injury. The Clippers haven’t been able to build any momentum lately, but they showed signs of life when they came from a 21-point deficit against the Heat on Monday, but I’d rather stick with the more reliable Nuggets who will likely come out swinging after getting routed in their last outing. This should be a close one, but with the line so short, I think the Nuggets represent decent value at home.
