After a memorable Game 7 win on Tuesday evening, the Denver Nuggets take the next step in the 2020 NBA Playoffs in facing the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 1 on Thursday. The Clippers toppled the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the Western Conference Playoffs, with a rest advantage against a Nuggets team that was forced to expend considerable energy to close out the Utah Jazz. Will Barton (knee) is out of action for Denver, while Patrick Beverley (calf) is listed as questionable for L.A. in Game 1.
This matchup tips at 9 p.m. ET from AdventHealth Arena in Orlando. Los Angeles is the 9.5-point favorite, up two points from the opening line, in the latest Clippers vs. Nuggets odds from William Hill. The over-under for total points expected is set at 222.5. Before making any Nuggets vs. Clippers picks, be sure to see the NBA predictions from SportsLine's proven computer model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times, and it's already returned over $5,000 in profit on its top-rated NBA picks this season. It entered the week on a blistering 60-33 run on top-rated NBA spread picks, returning almost $2,400 on those picks alone. It's also a sizzling 10-2 on top-rated picks since the NBA's restart in July. Anybody who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Nuggets vs. Clippers. You can visit SportsLine now to see the picks. Here are the NBA odds from William Hill and trends for Clippers vs. Nuggets:
- Clippers vs. Nuggets spread: Clippers -9.5
- Clippers vs. Nuggets over-under: 222.5 points
- Clippers vs. Nuggets money line: Clippers -500, Nuggets +400
- LAC The Clippers are 7-3 against the spread in the last 10 games
- DEN: The Nuggets are 6-4 against the spread in the last 10 games
Why the Clippers can cover
The Clippers are the more talented team in the series, with Kawhi Leonard at the forefront of everything. The reigning NBA Finals MVP averaged 32.8 points, 10.2 rebounds and 5.2 assists in a first round victory over the Dallas Mavericks, and the Nuggets should struggle to contain him throughout the series. Leonard is the centerpiece of one of the league's best offenses, with the Clippers ranking No. 2 in the NBA in points per possession and No. 1 in the NBA in free-throw rate during the regular season.
L.A. should also be able to take advantage of Denver on the glass, with the Clippers ranking in the top 10 in offensive rebounding and the Nuggets struggling to a bottom-10 mark in defensive rebounding. On the other end, the Clippers are also a top-five defensive team in the NBA, headlined by a top-three mark in shooting efficiency allowed. The Nuggets do have a potent offense, featuring Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, but few teams can match the versatility and potency the Clippers can deploy defensively.
Why the Nuggets can cover
The Nuggets are a stellar offensive team, headlined by Jokic and Murray. Jokic, who averaged 26.3 points and 8.1 rebounds per game in the first round against Utah, is an All-NBA center that facilitates offense with elite passing and feel. Murray, who exploded for a pair of 50-point games against the Jazz, is riding a hot hand, and the Nuggets rely on him for perimeter creation. In the regular season, the Nuggets finished with the No. 5 offense in the NBA, scoring 1.13 points per possession.
In the first round, Denver jumped to No. 3 in the league in points per possession, putting real pressure on the Jazz throughout the series. The Nuggets are one of the NBA's best offensive rebounding teams, grabbing 27.9 percent of available rebounds after missed shots, and Denver is also a top-10 team in avoiding turnovers. The Clippers have few defensive weaknesses, but L.A. ranked in the bottom 10 in turnover creation during the regular season, leading to optimism that the Nuggets can protect the ball and get shots to the rim.
How to make Clippers vs. Nuggets picks
SportsLine's model is leaning over on the total, with Leonard and Murray projected to exceed their season-long scoring averages. The model also says one side of the spread hits almost 60 percent of the time. You can only get the pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Clippers vs. Nuggets? And which side of the spread hits in almost 60 percent of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Nuggets vs. Clippers spread to jump on, all from the advanced model that is up over $5,000 on its top-rated NBA picks this season, and find out.
