Los Angeles Clippers Betting Preview
The Los Angeles Clippers will be kicking themselves after missing out on a crucial chance to steal home court advantage in Game 1 on Saturday. James Harden led the team with 32 points and 11 assists on 11 of 22 shooting, Kawhi Leonard added 22 points, Ivica Zubac scored 21 points with 13 rebounds while Norman Powell chipped in with 12 points. As a team, the Clippers shot 50 percent from the field and 12 of 33 from the 3-point line as they stormed out of the gates with 35 points in the first quarter to take an early 15-point lead. But they never put the Nuggets away, and it cost them in overtime where they scored just four points in the first 3:43 to allow the Nuggets to pull away. All five starters finished in double figures in scoring, but the Clippers got just 13 points from their bench players.
Denver Nuggets Betting Preview
Meanwhile, the Denver Nuggets really stumbled their way into the postseason low on confidence and under a new head coach. But they will be feeling so much better after hanging onto home-court advantage with a 112-110 overtime win over the Clippers in Game 2. 1. Nikola Jokic led the team with 29 points, nine rebounds and 12 assists, Aaron Gordon added 25 points with eight rebounds while Jamal Murray chipped in with 21 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. As a team, the Nuggets shot 43 percent from the field and nine of 27 from the 3-point line as they got off to a slow start. They had to claw their way back from an early 15-point deficit, before they played excellent defense in overtime sparked by Russell Westbrook to cap off the comeback win at home.
Why the Denver Nuggets will win
- The Clippers have lost each of their last 11 games at Ball Arena against Nuggets teams that held a winning record.
- The Nuggets have won each of their last 10 playoff home games against Pacific Division opponents.
- The Nuggets have covered the spread in each of their last seven games as underdogs against the Clippers following a win.
- The Clippers have failed to cover the spread in each of their last five games as road favorites against Western Conference opponents.
Why the Los Angeles Clippers will win
- The Clippers have won each of their last nine night games.
- The Nuggets have lost four of their last five games after coming off overtime.
- The Clippers have covered the spread in eight of their last nine road games.
- The Nuggets have failed to cover the spread in eight of their last nine home games against teams that held a winning record.
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 Prediction
The Clippers will be so disappointed with the result in Game 1, but they will take plenty of confidence from their effort, especially from Harden who really stepped it up on Saturday. They just couldn’t make their open shots in overtime, and that was the difference in a game that could’ve easily gone either way. The Nuggets were able to hold onto home-court advantage with a gritty win in Game 1, but they still open as slight underdogs in this one. It’s tempting to take the Nuggets as underdogs at home, but the Clippers were the better team for most of the game on Saturday. I think they make some adjustments and escape with a narrow win to level the series in this spot.