The Los Angeles Clippers kick off a season-high eight-game trip by playing the Denver Nuggets. Denver is favored in the NBA odds to exact revenge from Los Angeles after blowing a big lead in La La Land last week.
- Game: Los Angeles Clippers (22-23) at Denver Nuggets (22-20)
- Location: Ball Arena
- Day/Time: Wednesday, 10 p.m. ET
- Television: ESPN
Los Angeles Clippers at Denver Nuggets
Visitors Spinning Wheels
The Los Angeles Clippers halted a two-game slide with a 139-133 triumph over the Indiana Pacers on Monday. The Clippers were a 2½-point favorite in betting online while the total was exceeded by an eye-popping 61. Los Angeles’ Nicolas Batum scored all 32 of his season-high points in the second half to help keep Indiana from getting no closer than the final score. The Clippers led 68-59 at the break. Los Angeles’ Reggie Jackson contributed 26 points after totaling 25 in his previous three contests.
The Clippers are struggling to find consistency without star players Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. George hasn’t played since Dec. 22 (elbow) and was feeling a bit worse when he was booed off the video board while attending the Los Angeles Rams’ 34-11 win over the Arizona Cardinals on Monday night. Leonard is likely out for the season with a knee injury.
Nuggets Trying to Gain Traction
The Denver Nuggets were in a better place with four wins in their last five games before taking a step back in their 125-102 loss to the Utah Jazz on Monday. The Nuggets, a 5½-point underdog in the Las Vegas odds, were within 91-88 after three quarters. The Jazz were quickly covering for good, though, after scoring the final period’s first 11 points.
Denver has also found consistency tough to achieve while dealing with key injuries of its own in Jamal Murray (knee) and Michael Porter Jr. (back). Both could be back for the playoffs, provided the Nuggets get there. Nikola Jokić continues to put the club on his back while validating his 2021 MVP award, but is fourth-choice to repeat. The 6-foot-11 Serbian center provides 25.3 points, 13.9 rebounds and 7.4 assists per game, nearly mirroring his numbers from last season.
Revenge Factor Could Work Well for Nuggets
The Los Angeles Clippers erased a 25-point, second-half deficit to stun the Denver Nuggets 87-85 on Jan. 11. The Clippers were a 2½-point underdog in snapping a three-game slide. The contest stayed a whopping 41½ points under the total, aided by Los Angeles scoring 28 in the first half. The low has come through in the last four meetings. The Clippers are 20-25 against the spread and the Nuggets are 18-24. The clubs are each 3-5 ATS in their last eight.
Los Angeles has lost three straight-up and ATS on the road while Denver is 2-1 – straight-up and ATS – to start its six-game homestand. The line seems a bit high in the broader betting markets, seeing as neither team has been able to string much together. The Clippers would seem to be a good choice in the free NBA picks to at least keep it close in the Mile High City. And with the series playing low of late, the underdog and the under could work wonders together.
