LA Clippers vs Denver Nuggets Prediction & Betting Tips - NBA

Prediction published on 03/04/2024, 23:00  by Devesh Jaganath | Modified on 04/04/2024 at 04:45 in NBA Predictions

The Denver Nuggets will travel to the Crypto.com Arena to take on the Los Angeles Clippers in the NBA on Thursday night. The hosts are 47-28 and fourth in the Western Conference, while the visitors are 53-23 and lead the Conference standings. 

The Nuggets have already booked their place in the playoffs and have been in excellent form lately, reeling off 12 wins in their last 15 matches. They will look to keep up this momentum leading up to the postseason after overcoming the Spurs 110-105 on Wednesday night when Nikola Jokic put in a massive performance with 42 points, 16 rebounds, and six assists, while Aaron Gordon added 23 points and seven rebounds. Denver are the 14th-ranked team in scoring offense this season, averaging 114.5 points per game, 1.8 more than the Clippers usually allow. The Nuggets put up a significant 7.1 more points when playing at home as compared to away. However, what they lack in attack, they more than make up for on defense, where they rank sixth overall, allowing just 109.8 points per game and just 105.7 in their last three. Zeke Nnaji, Vlatko Cancar and Jamal Murray are doubts for this match. 

Meanwhile, the Clippers would have already secured their playoff spot by now had it not been for the two losses they suffered in their last two games, which have taken them to 5-5 in their last ten. The most recent defeat came on Tuesday night when they fell 109-95 to the Kings, with Russell Westbrook leading the team with 20 points and two assists, while Paul Geroge chipped in with 18 points and four assists. The Clippers are scoring 6.2 more points than the Nuggets allow (116.8), ranking 12th in the league, though they have only averaged 108.3 in their last three and failed to break 100 points in two of those games. Defensively, the Clippers rank 11th overall and are allowing 112.7 points per match. While a place in the playoffs for Los Angeles still seems the most likely outcome, a defeat here could see the Mavs pull within a win of overtaking them for fourth place. Jordan Miller and Moussa Diabate are doubts.