The Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers begin their best-of-seven Western Conference Semifinals series Thursday in the bubble outside of Orlando, Fla., with a 9 p.m. ET tip-off. We analyze the Nuggets-Clippers NBA betting odds and lines, with picks and best bets.
Nuggets vs. Clippers: Key injuries
Nuggets
- SG Will Barton (knee) out
- SF Vlatko Cancar (foot) out
Clippers
- PG Patrick Beverley (calf) questionable
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Nuggets vs. Clippers: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips
NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 7:55 a.m. ET.
Prediction
Clippers 123, Nuggets 104
Moneyline (ML)
The Clippers (-400) are heavy favorites against a Nuggets (+310) side just coming off a grueling Game 7 win against the Utah Jazz Tuesday night. L.A. last played Sunday when it finished off the Dallas Mavericks in six games. We have seen heavy favorites lose series openers so far in the bubble. This won’t be one of those times.
Despite the relative certainty that the more-rested Clips will win, AVOID a moneyline play on them since you’ll have to risk four times your potential return.
New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Clippers returns a profit of just $2.50 if they win. A $10 bet on the Nuggets returns a profit of $31 with a win.
Line/Against the Spread (ATS)
The CLIPPERS -8.5 (-110) are relatively healthy. That’s bad news for the Nuggets +8.5 (-110). The last time these teams met it was a 124-111 win by the Clips on Aug. 12 in the bubble; L.A. also waxed Denver 132-103 on Feb. 28 before the pause button was pressed on the regular season. See a pattern here?
Also see:
- Denver Nuggets rumors (HoopsHype)
- Los Angeles Clippers rumors (HoopsHype)
- HoopsHype – The latest NBA coverage
Over/Under (O/U)
OVER 223.5 (-110) is worth a small-unit play. The Nuggets’ defense is likely to look like a turnstile in the opener, as they’ll have heavy legs with such a quick turnaround after a physical series with the Jazz. The Clippers averaged 116.3 points per game this season, ranking fourth in the NBA, and they’re sixth in 3-pointer shooting. This one has the makings of a high-scoring blowout.
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