The Los Angeles Clippers (0-1) and Denver Nuggets (1-0) will face off in Game 2 of their first round NBA Playoff series tonight. Tipoff is set for 10:00 p.m. ET at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. The game will broadcast live on TNT.
The Clippers are 1.5-point favorites over the Nuggets on the spread (Clippers -1.5), with the over/under set at 217.5 total points. Los Angeles is a -120 favorite to win outright, while Denver is +100 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Clippers vs. Nuggets predictions and NBA picks for Monday, April 21.
Clippers vs. Nuggets Picks, Prediction
Spread
After opening as a two-point underdog on the road, we've seen the market move in favor of the Clippers, with Los Angeles now as high as a 1.5-point favorite in some sportsbooks. While it's not often that you see a line move through a key number of zero during the playoffs, when it does happen, bettors need to take notice.
Moneyline
With odds as high as -120 on the moneyline, a better option would be to back the Clippers on the point spread and lay the -1.5.
Over/Under
The biggest decision sportsbooks might face this postseason will involve how they price the totals.
Across the eight games played thus far in the first round, the average total was 217.5 points, with under-bettors on a 6-2 run. With this current total dropping from 219.5 down to 218, it's an easy pass for me at the current price.
My Pick: Clippers -1.5 (-110)
Clippers vs. Nuggets Odds
| Clippers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 -110 | 218.5 -110o / -110u | -120 |
| Nuggets Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -110 | 218.5 -110o / -110u | +100 |
- Clippers vs. Nuggets spread: Clippers -1.5
- Clippers vs. Nuggets over/under: 218.5 total points
- Clippers vs. Nuggets moneyline: Clippers -120, Nuggets +100
- Clippers vs. Nuggets best bet: Clippers -1.5 (-110)
My Nuggets vs. Clippers Game 2 best bet is on Los Angeles to cover the spread, with the best line currently available at DraftKings. But as always, make sure to shop for the best line using our live NBA odds page.
Clippers vs. Nuggets Game 2 Preview
This matchup could go right down to the wire after both teams earned a series split during the regular season. They took turns taking care of business, with Los Angeles winning the first two meetings before Denver came storming back.
We saw a similar instance in Game 1, as the Clippers jumped out to a 15-point lead, only for the Nuggets to mount a rally and force overtime, ultimately escaping with the victory.
However, a closer look at the box score would suggest that Los Angeles probably did enough to deserve a more favorable result. After all, it shot 50% from the floor compared to 43.6% for Denver, outscored the Nuggets 60-56 inside the paint and in transition (19-16), while also shooting better from the perimeter (12-of-33 vs. 9-of-27).
The one glaring flaw for the Clippers was their 20 turnovers, compared to the Nuggets' 11.
Los Angeles small forward Kawhi Leonard committed seven turnovers on his own, five more than his season average.
The Clippers know they likely did enough to win the game, but this time around, they'll have to take much better care of the basketball. With Denver ranking just 25th in forcing opponent turnovers (13.0 per game), Game 1 was much more of an anomaly than anything else.
Look for the Clippers to get back on track and knot this series at one game apiece.
Clippers vs. Nuggets Betting Predictions
One thing we can expect during the playoffs is that teams will often keep their starters on the court for a bit longer, resulting in fewer minutes for the players on the bench. The Nuggets have rarely shown much of a desire to play their reserves, considering they ranked 28th in minutes played (14.7) by non-starters.
Nuggets guard Christian Braun racked up 45 minutes in Game 1 and finished with 11 points, three rebounds and one assist.
Against a quality defensive team like the Clippers, Braun could struggle to produce, especially if Los Angeles is successful in dictating the pace and slowing the game down almost to a standstill. Braun has a points + rebounds prop of 18.5—a projection he has failed to meet in his last nine games against the Clippers.
With Russell Westbrook offering a bit more dynamism off the bench, it wouldn't surprise me if we see the veteran guard play his way into more minutes, thereby increasing our chances that Braun stays under his prop line.
Braun's prop would serve as an excellent addition to our same-game parlay, which includes the Clippers covering the spread as a one-point favorite.
Clippers vs. Nuggets Best Bet
- Clippers -1.5 (-110)
Clippers vs. Nuggets Parlay Picks
- Christian Braun Under 18.5 Points + Rebounds
- Clippers -1.5
Parlay Payout: +220
Nuggets vs. Clippers Betting Trends
