Nuggets vs Clippers: Tips, Odds, and Match Preview

On paper and from a record perspective, this will be the most unpredictable series of the first round in the Western Conference. The Nuggets and the Clippers finished the regular season with an identical record of 50-32, but Denver held the tiebreaker, so they’ll open and close the series at Ball Arena, where they went 26-15.

The Clippers, however, went 20-21 playing away from home and won’t be an easy opponent. They have two star players with tons of playoff experience in Kawhi Leonard and James Harden, and Ivica Zubac could be an X-factor in the series due to his ability to limit the impact of the Nuggets’ star center, Nikola Jokić.

Nuggets Again Rely on Nikola Jokić

Tiny details and small margins will determine the winner in the series, and on that note, the home-court advantage could be huge for the Nuggets. Denver finished the season on a run of three straight wins, including a victory against the Houston Rockets on the regular-season finale on Sunday, April 13th, so they should have a lot of confidence ahead of this series opener, particularly since their regular rotation players are fully healthy.

However, as important as Jamal Murray might be for the Nuggets, this time will only go as far as Jokić can carry it. The star center became the first big man in NBA history to average a triple-double in the regular season after finishing the campaign with 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds and 10.2 assists per game. There’s no doubt the Serbian big man is one of the most talented players in the world, but it remains to be seen if he can carry the Nuggets to a deep playoff run on his own due to the recent struggles of the supporting cast.

Nuggets Injury & Suspension News

The Nuggets will be at full strength for the series opener. The lone absentee is Da’Ron Holmes, but the rookie big man will miss the rest of the campaign while recovering from an Achilles injury.

Clippers Gunning for a Mile-High Upset

The Clippers had more than a few problems playing on the road throughout the regular season, but there’s no question they are riding a high note in terms of confidence ahead of this postseason opener. They capped their regular season in style with eight wins in a row, including a 124-119 overtime victory over the Golden State Warriors that earned them the fifth seed in the Western Conference.

To pull the upset in the series opener, though, the Clippers need their star players to be at their best. Harden and Leonard should play pivotal roles on offense for Los Angeles, but this is particularly true when it comes to Leonard, who can have a matchup advantage against either Michael Porter Jr. or Aaron Gordon. Meanwhile, Harden had another impressive season while leading the Clippers in both points (22.8) and assists (8.7) per game in the regular season.

Clippers Injury & Suspension News

The Clippers will be mostly healthy for this series opener. They only have the doubts of Nicolas Batum (groin), Patty Mills (illness) and Seth Lundy (ankle). However, Batum is the only player out of that trio who should have a sizable role in the playoff rotation.

Nuggets vs Clippers Prediction

It’s hard to see a team edging the other throughout the series, but there will be minimal details that could tip the scales one way or the other. Both teams ended the regular season on a high note, but the Nuggets will have the edge in this series opener due to their home-court advantage. Expect Denver not only to win Game 1, but also to cover the -2.5 point spread.

CryptoGamba tip: Nuggets (-2.5) – 1.88 @Stake