LA Clippers (50-32) vs. Denver Nuggets (50-32)
April 19, 2025 3:30 pm EDT
The Line: Denver Nuggets -2.5; Over/Under: 223.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The LA Clippers and Denver Nuggets meet Saturday in the NBA playoffs Game 1 at the Ball Arena. Here’s a Nuggets vs Clippers Prediction. This article will include a Nuggets vs Clippers Pick.
LA Clippers Betting Preview
The LA Clippers enter the playoff on an eight-game winning streak. The Clippers are in the playoffs for a third straight season and for the sixth time in the last seven seasons.
The LA Clippers are averaging 114.3 points on 48.2 percent shooting and allowing 109.6 points on 46.1 percent shooting. Norman Powell is averaging 21.8 points and 3.2 rebounds, while James Harden is averaging 22.8 points and 5.8 rebounds. Kawhi Leonard is the third double-digit scorer, and Ivica Zubac is grabbing 12.6 rebounds. The LA Clippers are shooting 37.3 percent from beyond the arc and 79.7 percent from the free-throw line. The LA Clippers are allowing 35 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 44.3 rebounds per game.
Denver Nuggets Betting Preview
The Denver Nuggets ended the regular season with three straight wins and are in the playoffs for a seventh straight season. The Nuggets have lost in the first round of the playoffs just once during that span.
The Denver Nuggets are averaging 122.3 points on 50.6 percent shooting and allowing 118.3 points on 46.6 percent shooting. Nikola Jokic is averaging 29.6 points and 12.7 rebounds, while Jamal Murray is averaging 21.4 points and 3.9 rebounds. Michael Porter Jr. is the third double-digit scorer, and Christian Braun is grabbing 5.2 rebounds. The Denver Nuggets are shooting 37.6 percent from beyond the arc and 77 percent from the free-throw line. The Denver Nuggets are allowing 36.5 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 46.3 rebounds per game.
Why the Denver Nuggets will win
- The Clippers have lost each of their last 10 games at Ball Arena against Nuggets teams that held a winning record.
- The Nuggets have won each of their last nine playoff home games against Pacific Division opponents.
- The Nuggets have covered the spread in seven of their last eight games at Ball Arena against Clippers teams that held a winning record.
- The Clippers have failed to cover the spread in each of their last four games against Northwest Division opponents that held a winning record.
Why the Los Angeles Clippers will win
- The Clippers have won each of their last eight games.
- The Nuggets have lost three of their last four playoff games as home favorites.
- The Nuggets have failed to cover the spread in eight of their last nine Western Conference First Round games as favorites against Pacific Division opponents.
- The Clippers have covered the spread in seven of their last eight road games.
Denver Nuggets Player Facts
- Nikola Jokic is the only qualified player in the league averaging at least 25.0 points, 10.0 assists and 5.0 rebounds this season.
- Christian Braun ranks 1st in the league for fast break points (403) this season.
Los Angeles Clippers Player Facts
- Ivica Zubac ranks T2nd in the league for second chance points (299) this season.
- Kris Dunn ranks 3rd amongst qualified players for steals per 36 minutes (2.6) this season.
Nuggets vs Clippers Injury Report
The Nuggets will be without DaRon Holmes II.
The Clippers don’t have any players listed on their injury report.
Nuggets vs Clippers Prediction
I’ve been very underdog heavy since the play-in tournament, but it’s paid off up to this point. I like the Clippers in this series, so I’m going to grab the points when I can get them. While the Nuggets are usually a force at home, and they have the best player in the league, the Clippers are healthy and the better, deeper team.
The Nuggets lack depth, and they also have a head coach in David Adelman who is still learning on the fly. Tyronn Lue is one of the better coaches in the league, and him having time to put together a game plan together creates a major mismatch on the sidelines. I believe the Clippers are sitting in a comfortable spot in this series from a coaching and depth standpoint, and I want the points.
