The Denver Nuggets (35-20) and the LA Clippers (26-28) face off Thursday night at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California, with tip-off scheduled for 10:30 p.m. ET. Denver leads the season series against the Clippers 2-0, having secured victories on November 12 and January 30.
The Nuggets defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 122-116 on February 11, but did not cover the 14.5-point spread. Nikola Jokic recorded a triple-double with 26 points, 15 rebounds, and 11 assists, despite committing nine turnovers. Jamal Murray contributed 23 points, 7 assists, and 6 rebounds, while Tim Hardaway Jr. Added 21 points off the bench. Denver has struggled recently, posting a 2-4 record both straight up and against the spread in their last six games.
The Clippers won 105-102 in Houston on February 11, covering as 8.5-point underdogs. Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers with 27 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals. Los Angeles had won three of their final four games before the All-Star break, covering the spread in each of those victories.
BetMGM Sportsbook lists the Nuggets as 175 moneyline favorites. A $175 wager on Denver would yield a $100 profit. The Clippers are listed at +145, meaning a $100 bet could return $145. The Nuggets are favored by 4.5 points (-105), while the Clippers are 4.5-point underdogs (-115). The over/under is set at 226.5 points (-105 for the over, -115 for the under).
Several key players are listed on injury reports. For the Nuggets, Tamar Bates is out with a foot injury, Aaron Gordon is sidelined due to a hamstring injury, Peyton Watson is out with a hamstring injury, and Jalen Pickett is probable with a knee issue. The Clippers will be without Bradley Beal (hip) and Darius Garland (toe).
The Nuggets have historically performed well against the Clippers, going 5-0-1 against the spread in their last six meetings, including a 3-0-1 record in the final four games of their seven-game playoff series last season. The Over has hit in five consecutive games between the two teams. However, Denver’s recent form has been inconsistent, and the Clippers have shown improvement, particularly in their final games before the break.
The Clippers recently traded James Harden to Cleveland, but have yet to fully integrate the return in the deal, as Darius Garland remains out due to injury.
