The Los Angeles Clippers and Denver Nuggets continue their best-of-seven Western Conference Semifinals series Monday with Game 3 in the bubble outside of Orlando, Fla., with a 9 p.m. ET tip-off (on TNT). We analyze the Clippers-Nuggets NBA betting odds and lines, with picks and best bets.
Clippers vs. Nuggets: Key injuries
Clippers
- No major injuries to report
Nuggets
- SG Will Barton (knee) out
- SF Vlatko Cancar (foot) out
- C Nikola Jokic (wrist) questionable
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Clippers vs. Nuggets: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips
NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated Monday at 7:25 a.m. ET.
Prediction
Clippers 114, Nuggets 103
Moneyline (ML)
The Clippers (-455) are overwhelming favorites despite the fact they just dropped Game 2 by nine points. In fact, last game was a cautionary tale why you never, ever take a moneyline favorite at more than -180 or so. Yes, a majority of the time when a team is favored by this much they’re probably going to win. But you can win this eight times out of 10, or an amazing 80 percent clip, and still be behind. If anything, the Nuggets (+350) are worth sniffing around, although Jokic is nicked up and a question mark. AVOID.
New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Clippers returns a profit of just $2.20 if they win. A $10 bet on the Nuggets returns a profit of $35 with a win.
Line/Against the Spread (ATS)
The CLIPPERS -9 (-110) got a little bit of a wake-up call after the Nuggets +9 (-110) were sleepwalking through Game 1. Denver couldn’t help it, as they had a quick turnaround after a grueling seven-game set with Utah. They got their sea legs in Game 2 and surprised the Clips. Don’t look for it to happen again, especially if Jokic is shelved. L.A. is a championship contender for a reason, and they’ll roll to a Game 3 win, a cover and a series lead here.
Also see:
- Denver Nuggets rumors (HoopsHype)
- Los Angeles Clippers rumors (HoopsHype)
- HoopsHype – The latest NBA coverage
Over/Under (O/U)
UNDER 219.5 (-110) is going to be a nail-biter, but it should end up cashing in your favor. The under has hit in three straight for Denver, and three straight for L.A. The only thing that scares me about playing the under is, again, if Jokic sits. Yes, he provides a lot of offense, but he also clogs the middle. The Clippers will have free reign in the paint if the big man sits to rest his wrist.
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