The Los Angeles Clippers (2-2) and Denver Nuggets (2-2) will face off in Game 5 of their first round NBA Playoff series tonight. Tipoff is set for 10 p.m. ET at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. The game will broadcast live on TNT.
The Clippers are 2-point favorites over the Nuggets on the spread, with the over/under set at 208.5 total points. Los Angeles is a -130 favorite to win outright, while Denver is +110 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Clippers vs. Nuggets predictions and NBA picks on Tuesday, April 29.
Clippers vs Nuggets Prediction, Picks for NBA Playoffs Game 5
My Nuggets vs. Clippers Game 5 best bet is on the Under at 208.5 total points, with the best line currently available at BetMGM. But as always, make sure to shop for the best line using our live NBA odds page.
My Pick: Under 208.5 (-110)
Clippers vs Nuggets Betting Odds for Tuesday, April 29
| Clippers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-2 -110 | 208.5 -110o / -110u | -130 |
| Nuggets Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+2 -110 | 208.5 -110o / -110u | +110 |
- Clippers vs. Nuggets spread: Clippers -2
- Clippers vs. Nuggets over/under: 208.5 total points
- Clippers vs. Nuggets moneyline: Clippers -130, Nuggets +110
- Clippers vs. Nuggets best bet:Under 208.5 (-110)
Los Angeles Clippers vs Denver Nuggets Preview for Game 5
Just before the halftime break in the previous matchup of this series, tempers flared as six technical fouls (two to Nikola Jokic and Aaron Gordon) were issued following a scuffle near half-court.
It's no surprise that these teams are growing tired of one another. It's been a tight and physical series thus far, as three of the first four games have been decided by three points or fewer.
Gordon not getting ejected would prove to be pivotal, as he had the game-winning put-back dunk to give the Nuggets a 101-99 victory as time expired. Since the detailed play-by-play era began 28 years ago, Gordon's put-back was the first buzzer-beating dunk in NBA Playoff history.
Now, the series shifts back to Denver for Game 5 tonight deadlocked at two games apiece.
It's not often that you find Jokic as a home underdog in a playoff game, but that's the case as of this writing. Jokic has had to work in this series with Ivica Zubac on the other side. However, he's still averaging 28.5 points, 13.5 rebounds and 10.8 assists in this series.
While he didn't have a triple-double on Saturday, Jokic is coming off one of the best games of his postseason career, posting 36 points, 21 rebounds and eight assists.
Zubac's breakout season has extended into the playoffs, as he's averaging 18.8 points and 11.5 rebounds per game in this series while shooting 64.7% from the field. However, if the Clippers are going to head back to Los Angeles up 3-2, it'll likely be James Harden and Kawhi Leonard leading the way.
Despite the great individual performances on both sides, the under has hit in all four games in this series. That includes an overtime game in Game 1, with the last three games coming in below 208 points. Going back even further, the under is 9-2-1 in the last 12 meetings between these two teams.
One reason for the lower totals is because the teams are averaging just 91.1 possessions per 48 minutes in this series. It's the second-slowest series of the first round matchups. The teams' primary ball-handlers (Jokic and Harden) both like playing at a slower tempo as well.
However, they also make those possessions count. Jokic has scored 25 points in eight of his last 11 games against the Clippers, including three of the first four in this series.
Harden exploded for 32 points in Game 1 when well-rested. He scored just 18 points in Game 2 and 15 in Game 4 with just one day of rest. With two days of rest ahead of tonight's Game 5, that may lead to a better scoring performance, but I expect him to facilitate either way. He's averaging 9.5 per game in this series.
Harden will look to set up Leonard and Zubac. Leonard has scored 20+ points in all four games in this series, while Zubac has scored 15+ points in all four games.
Clippers vs Nuggets Game 5 Best Bet
- Under 208.5 (-110)
Clippers vs Nuggets Parlay for Tuesday Night
- Kawhi Leonard 20+ Points
- Nikola Jokic 25+ Points
- James Harden Over 9.5 Assists
- Ivica Zubac 15+ Points
Parlay Payout: +255
Nuggets vs. Clippers Betting Trends
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