Denver Nuggets vs Los Angeles Clippers
October 4, 2021 10:30 pm EDT
The Line: Los Angeles Clippers / Denver Nuggets
(Get latest betting odds)
The Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers meet Monday in NBA preseason action at the STAPLES Center. The Denver Nuggets have won no less than 46 games the last four seasons and hope they can contend for an NBA title this year. The Los Angeles Clippers are fresh off 47 victories and their first ever Conference Finals trip.
The Denver Nuggets watched JaVale McGee and Paul Millsap leave this offseason, while they add Jeff Green and the rookie Nah’Shon Hyland. The Nuggets will get full seasons from Aaron Gordon and Austin Rivers as they return to the lineup. Michael Porter Jr. continues to rise and could soon enter all-star status, while defending MVP Nikola Jokic will remain the straw that stirs the drink in Denver. Of course, the Nuggets won’t reach their full potential until the return of Jamal Murray, who suffered a torn ACL, but he’s not expected to be back until later next year. When fully healthy, the Nuggets are the ultimate dark horse when it comes to teams that can win an NBA title.
The Los Angeles Clippers have an intriguing roster that’s capable of sneaking into the playoffs, but they can’t be taken seriously overall unless Kawhi Leonard returns from a torn ACL. Paul George looked like the player from Indiana last year and a backcourt of Reggie Jackson and Eric Bledsoe isn’t terrible. Terance Mann is really starting to come into his own and Luke Kennard is an effective when scorer when the Clippers staff decides to give him minutes. Keon Johnson was a potential steal in the NBA draft and maybe this is the place where Justise Winslow finally gets comfortable. Also, a healthy Serge Ibaka would go a long way to the front court depth of the Clippers, mainly backing up Ivica Zubac. The Clippers should be fine in terms of pushing for a playoff spot, but they have no chance of fighting for a title unless Kawhi returns at some point.
The Nuggets are 19-7 ATS in their last 26 Monday games and 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games overall. The Clippers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 home games and 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games overall. The over is 8-3 in Nuggets last 11 overall. The under is 10-4-1 in Clippers last 15 Monday games. The Nuggets are 5-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings.
This would be a hell of a game if key players actually suited up, but the thing about the preseason is you never know who is going to play and for how long. What we do know is the Denver Nuggets have won nine of their last 11 preseason games, and they have some end of the bench guys who will have their chances to prove they deserve regular season minutes.
I lean Nuggets here, but it depends on what the line is…
