The Denver Nuggets (20-18) head to Crypto.com Arena Tuesday for a 10:30 p.m. ET game versus the Los Angeles Clippers (20-21). Below, we look at the Nuggets vs. Clippers odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions and bets.
Denver has won back-to-back games against the Sacramento Kings 121-111 Friday and at the Oklahoma City Thunder 99-95 Sunday.
The Nuggets are 4-2 straight-up (SU), 3-3 ATS and 2-4 O/U over the last two weeks with the 10th-best non-garbage time net rating at plus-4.1 points per 100 possessions, according to CleaningTheGlass.com.
L.A. snapped a three-game losing skid by rolling the Atlanta Hawks 106-93 at home Sunday afternoon as a 4-point favorite.
The Clippers are 3-4 SU, 3-4 ATS and 4-3 O/U in the last 14 days with the 21st-ranked non-garbage time net rating at minus-4.6 points per 100 possessions, per CTG.
The Nuggets squeaked past the Clippers 103-100 Dec. 26 as 4-point favorites. Denver big Nikola Jokic had an off-shooting night versus L.A. but put up 26 points with 22 rebounds and 8 assists.
Nuggets at Clippers odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 2:12 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Nuggets -155 (bet $155 to win $100) | Clippers +125 (bet $100 to win $125)
- Against the spread (ATS): Nuggets -3.5 (-107) | Clippers +3.5 (-115)
- Over/Under (O/U): 213.5 (O: -107 | U: -115)
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Nuggets at Clippers key injuries
Nuggets
- SG Will Barton (health and safety protocols) out
Clippers
- SG Paul George (elbow) out
- SG Luke Kennard (health and safety protocols) out
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Nuggets at Clippers odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Nuggets 108, Clippers 101
Money line
PASS with a heavy “lean” to the Nuggets (-155) because I’m confident enough in Denver to just lay the points and don’t want to pay the extra vig for the money line.
However, I’d BET 1 unit on the NUGGETS (-135) FIRST-HALF WINNER. Over the last three games, Denver has a plus-7.7 first-half scoring margin while L.A. has a minus-6.7 first-half scoring margin.
But, the Nuggets have given games back in the second half recently. Denver has a minus-6.7 third-quarter scoring margin over the past three games while L.A. has a plus-4.7 third-quarter scoring margin during that span.
The Clippers outscored the Nuggets 28-15 in Denver’s 3-point victory over L.A. earlier this season, which was the only reason the Nuggets didn’t cover the spread in that game.
The NUGGETS (-135) FIRST-HALF WINNER is my favorite wager here.
Against the spread
“LEAN” to the NUGGETS -3.5 (-107) because of Denver’s aforementioned third-quarter struggles.
The Nuggets are trending in a much better direction, mostly due to the Clippers’ injury woes and Denver has owned the L.A. in recent seasons.
Not only did Denver eliminate L.A. from the playoffs two seasons ago, but the Nuggets have beaten the Clippers in three straight meetings, all three in L.A., and covered in two of those games.
This is also just a bad spot for the Clippers who are 3-9 ATS in their last 12 outings following a SU win and 1-4 ATS in their last five versus a team with a winning record.
Over/Under
PASS with a heavy “lean” to the Under 213.5 (-115) because the Nuggets-Clippers look-ahead total was 218 so we’d be getting to the party too late on the Under.
Although the Over has become more popular now (according to Pregame.com) so perhaps there’s still some value in Under 213.5 (-110). Either way, I’m PASSING ON THE TOTAL.
For what it’s worth, Denver has gone Under the total in five of its last six road games and L.A. has the fourth-best adjusted defensive rating in the NBA (per CTG).
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