The Los Angeles Clippers took a 3-1 series lead over the Denver Nuggets in the second round of the NBA playoffs last season before going 0-3 SU and ATS over their next three games to lose the series. The Clippers will try to exact some revenge with a win over the Nuggets on Christmas in Denver.
- Date/Time: December 25, 10:30 p.m. ET
- Arena: Ball Arena
- TV Coverage: ESPN
- Sportsbook Odds: Clippers -1 | O/U 223.5 (Line History)
- Clippers vs Nuggets Matchup Report
Sportsbook Odds Analysis
The line on this game has remained steady with Los Angeles Sportsbook as a 1-point road favorite in Denver. The total has moved slightly from its opener of 223.5 points as an early preference toward the UNDER has bumped the total down to 223 points. The UNDER is 7-2-1 in the last 10 meetings between the Clippers and the Nuggets.
Los Angeles News & Notes
The Clippers kicked off their regular season with a 116-109 win over the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers. Paul George led the way with 33 points, Kawhi Leonard had 26 points and key offseason acquisition Serge Ibaka had 15 points.
After last season’s postseason collapse, the Clippers are hoping that the additions of Ibaka and Luke Kennard will help George and Leonard lead the Clippers to their first championship in franchise history.
Los Angeles was 5-1 SU and 4-2 ATS in its previous six games against Denver before blowing its 3-1 series lead against the Nuggets last season. Denver won Game 6 by 13 points as an 8.5-point underdog and Game 7 by 15 points as a 7.5-point underdog in the playoff bubble. It’s safe to assume the Clippers have had this game circled on their calendar since it was scheduled.
Denver News & Notes
The Nuggets ended up on the wrong side of a thrilling overtime game on Wednesday night, losing to the Sacramento Kings 124-122 as 7.5-point favorites at home.
Nikola Jokic had a strong season debut with 29 points, 15 rebounds and 14 assists, but it wasn’t enough to fend off the Kings. Jamal Murray had a terrible shooting day from the floor, going just 1-for-9 on field-goal attempts and 0-for-5 from three-point range.
Despite advancing to the Western Conference final last season, Denver decided not to make any bold moves this offseason, instead keeping its core intact and adding some good young players in the draft. Now the pressure is on the locker room to build on last year’s 46-27 SU season in what figures to be an extremely competitive Western Conference in 2021.
Betting Pick: Los Angeles -1
Considering the Clippers looked sharper in their season debut than the Nuggets did and the fact that Los Angeles should have plenty of extra motivation after last year’s blowup, the small road favorites are the play here.
- Los Angeles is 5-0 SU and ATS in its last 5 road games.
- Denver is 0-5-1 ATS in its last 6 December games.
- The OVER is 5-1 in Denver’s last 6 games.
