Nuggets vs. Clippers Prediction and Odds: LA Builds Off Kawhi’s 39-Point Night

The Western Conference first round’s Wednesday night schedule ends with the league’s most exciting series! Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets aim to go up 2-1 as the series shifts to Inglewood, where Kawhi Leonard and the LA Clippers will host back-to-back games. For new users at FanDuel Sportsbook, you can bet $5 and receive $250 in Bonus Bets if your bet wins!

For the best NBA game previews, WSN has you covered with betting picks and tips every day throughout the 2024-25 NBA season! New sports bettors supporting their hometown Denver Nuggets can take advantage of the top Colorado sportsbook promos and bonuses before their matchup against the LA Clippers tips off!

The Nuggets and Clippers tip off a crucial Game 3 matchup when they take the court on Thursday night. Despite another triple-double effort from Nikola Jokic and his Nuggets, where they outrebounded the Clippers by almost 20, they lost Game 2 on their home court. The LA Clippers will use home court advantage to regain the winning trend while building off a 39-point night from Kawhi Leonard—the game tips off at 10:00 PM EST at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.

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Denver Nuggets vs. LA Clippers Betting Odds

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Denver Nuggets vs. LA Clippers Betting Pick

• My Pick: Spread - LA Clippers -5.0 (-114) at FanDuel

The Denver Nuggets and LA Clippers promise another competitive matchup when they face off on Thursday night. Both games in this series have gone down to the wire, but a strong all-around effort wasn’t enough to separate the Nuggets from the Clippers before hitting the road for two games. The difference in this series has been the LA Clippers’s defense, which has stifled Denver with its versatility. With a raucous LA crowd, a red-hot Kawhi Leonard, and the momentum of an inspired Game 2 win, expect the Clippers to be locked in from tip-off while building on their defensive effort when the game begins on Thursday night!

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Denver Nuggets Preview

The Denver Nuggets fought hard in Game 2 against the LA Clippers, but despite their efforts, they could not go up 2-0 before the series switched to LA’s home court. Starman Nikola Jokic has been excellent as usual, and their role players aim to build on a strong shooting performance to steal a game from the Clippers in California.

With a game plan revolving around the brilliance of Nikola Jokic, the Denver Nuggets put on a strong showing in Game 2 despite the loss. They scored 102 points on the night, outrebounded the Clippers by 18, and hit 14 threes on 43.8% efficiency from deep. Fine margins separated the Nuggets and Clippers in Game 2, so expect an aggressive Jokic to drive Denver to overcome LA in Game 3.

Through 82 regular-season games and two playoff games, the Nuggets were weak against the spread, posting a 38-45-1 ATS Record, ranking them 24th in the NBA. They have a 45.8% cover percentage, a +3.8 margin of victory, and a 0.0 ATS +/- this season.

Starman Nikola Jokic led the way for Denver in Game 2, posting 26 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists, and four made threes on 50.0% shooting. Sidekicks Jamal Murray, who scored 23, and Michael Porter Jr., who posted 15 points and 15 rebounds, also stepped up. Ultimately, it wasn’t enough, so expect the Nuggets to try and succeed by limiting their errors–as Murray and Jokic accounted for 11 of 20 unforced errors.

Regarding the Denver Nuggets’ injury report, (F) Michael Porter Jr. (Shoulder) is a Game Time Decision, while (C) DaRon Holmes (Achilles) is out for the season.

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LA Clippers Preview

The LA Clippers may have been inconsistent through the regular season, but they’ve been as talented as advertised through two games of their West Playoffs first round series. On top of their suffocating defense, the Clippers have found new ambition behind a stellar performance from Kawhi Leonard and two upcoming games in Inglewood.

Known as a defense-first team, the LA Clippers also kept up on the scoring end, putting up 105 points in the victory while shooting 48.2% from the field and hitting 13 threes with 38.2% efficiency from beyond the arc. The versatility of their defensive lineup was on full display, forcing the Nuggets to commit 20 turnovers. LA’s defense is a staple, so expect another tightly contested affair when Game 3 tips off, with the added benefit of home court advantage after shooting 50.0% and 48.0% through Games 1 and 2.

The Clippers have been one of the best teams in the NBA against the spread this season, posting a 49-35-0 ATS Record through the regular season and two playoff games, third-best in the NBA. They have a 58.3% cover percentage, a +4.6 margin of victory, and a +2.3 ATS +/- this season. In Game 2, the Clippers won outright (-104) while covering the spread (+1.0).

The performance of the night in Game 2 came from Kawhi Leonard, as the two-time NBA Finals MVP contributed 39 points, five assists, and four made threes on 15-of-19 shooting. LA received just enough from their role players to win Game 2, but expect a better showing in Game 3 from James Harden and Norman Powell. Harden and Powell combined for 31 points in Game 2, though Powell shot a meager 5-of-14 while Harden led the team with four turnovers.

Regarding the LA Clippers’ injury report, (G) Seth Lundy (Ankle) is out for the season.

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How to Watch Denver Nuggets vs. LA Clippers

• Teams: Denver Nuggets vs. LA Clippers

• Location: Intuit Dome, Inglewood, CA

• Date: 10:00 PM, Thursday, April 24, 2025

• TV:  NBA TV