Nuggets, Clippers to Clamp Down in Game 6

The Clippers let their first chance at an all-L.A. Western Conference final slip through their fingers – but oddsmakers don't see that happening again as the West's No. 2 seed prepares to face Denver in Game 6 on Sunday afternoon. The Clippers blew a 15-point second-half lead in a 111-106 defeat that has given the Nuggets new life as they improved to 4-0 in elimination games this postseason.

Sportsbook Odds Analysis

The Clippers kicked off betting for Game 6 as 7.5-point favorites, but that line has since swelled to -8.5. The total kicked off at 214 – the lowest of the series – and is down a half-point at the majority of sportsbooks.

LA Clippers News & Notes

Getting past the Nuggets might not come down to just one thing, but it couldn't hurt the Clippers to be more aggressive at getting to the basket. L.A. finished with six fewer free throws on eight fewer attempts in Game 5, and those makes ultimately equaled Denver's margin of victory. The Clippers have averaged 23.8 foul shots in the series, while the Nuggets are at 21.0.

That task might need to fall on Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, who took 13 of the team's 17 free throws in Game 5 – and made all 13. Leonard has been the most dependable player in the series whether the Clippers win or lose, and had a game-high 36 points in defeat Friday. Leonard's point prop sits at 30.5 for Game 6, and the Over might be the superior play given the stakes.

Denver News & Notes

With Jamal Murray having struggled for most of the series and Nikola Jokic unable to carry the Nuggets into the conference finals by himself, Denver needs a dependable third option. Paul Millsap was that man in Game 5, scoring 17 points (13 coming in a pivotal third quarter) as Denver erupted for 67 second-half points to remain alive in the best-of-seven.

For as encouraging as it was to see some life from Millsap – who had earlier been involved in a dust-up with the Clippers' Marcus Morris – it was just as important for the Nuggets to get a clutch showing from Murray, whose 26 points were his most since Game 2 (though he needed 25 shots to get there). The O24.5 on his point prop is in play here, given the expected shot volume.

Betting Pick: UNDER 213.5 (-110)

The Nuggets clamped down on defense in the second half of Game 5 – and you can expect the Clippers to follow suit Sunday as they look to erase an abysmal showing two days earlier.