In this Nuggets vs. Clippers prediction, the Nuggets and Clippers get set for game four of their seven-game series with the Clippers holding a 2-1 series lead. The Clippers have wrestled control of the series, winning two straight games after losing the opener in Denver. A Clippers' win in game four will put the Nuggets on the verge of elimination before the series shifts back to Denver. The opening tap is scheduled for 6:00 pm EST. Read on for more in this Nuggets at Clippers prediction and grab more of our top NBA predictions and increase your bankroll!
Denver needs to get defensive
The Denver Nuggets arrived in LA with the series tied at one game apiece, but left game three searching for answers after taking a 117-83 beating at the hands of the Clippers. The Nuggets were never really in the game, trailing by seven after one quarter and 18 at the half. The game ended with a thud, with the Nuggets scoring just 13 points in the fourth quarter. Nikola Jokic led the Nuggets with 23 points, 13 rebounds, and 13 assists for another triple-double while Jamal Murray chipped in with 23 points of his own.
“The first two games were very competitive. This game was not,” interim Nuggets coach David Adelman said. “But you can come back Saturday and you can right a lot of wrongs.”
After shooting below average in each of the first two games of the series, the Nuggets bottomed out in game three. They shot just 40 percent from the floor overall and 27 percent from beyond the arc. They also lowered the number of threes made to just seven, dropping from a series high of 13 in the opener. The Nuggets were also outrebounded for the first time in the series, 48-38. Turnovers were again a problem for the Nuggets as well. In game one, the Nuggets had just 11 turnovers. That number jumped to 20 in game two, and they added 16 more turnovers on Thursday night. The Nuggets' bench contributed a grand total of six points in the loss.
Clippers win first home game at Intuit
The Los Angeles Clippers did not disappoint their fans in their first-ever playoff game at the Intuit Dome on Thursday night. The Clippers dominated from nearly the beginning to the end and cruised to a 117-83 win to take a 2-1 lead in their best-of-seven series with the Nuggets. Kawhi Leonard followed up his 39-point performance in game two with 21 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Clippers. Teammates James Harden and Norman Powell each had 20 points as the Clippers and their faithful christened the new arena in style in their first-ever playoff win in the dome.
“It was crackin,’ it was loud. Just how I expected it to be,” Harden said. “That's one of the reasons why we jumped out to a huge lead.”
The first two games of the series were decided by a grand total of five points before the Clippers seized control of the series with a 34-point win on Thursday night. The Clippers continued their sharp-shooting, hitting on 48 percent of their shots, including 43 percent from long range. The Clippers also outrebounded the Nuggets by 10 while dominating bench play. They had 32 points off the bench compared to just six for the Nuggets. For the second straight game, the Clippers won the turnover battle as well. After committing 20 in the first contest, the Clippers have had just 11 in each of the next two games. They won the points off of turnovers battle in game three, 16-9.
Best Bets for Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Clippers
Full-Game Side Bet
Insiders Status:
While I don't expect another 30-point blowout in game four, the Clippers should again exploit Denver's weaknesses to take a commanding 3-1 series lead. The Clippers are the vastly superior defensive team and, thus far, have proven to be at least the Nuggets' equal defensively. Denver needs to dominate teams on the offensive end, but has failed to shoot close to 50 percent in either game two or three. The Nuggets have also offered up little or no resistance to Leonard, who has exploited them for 50 points total in games two and three. He'll have his way again in this one against a Nuggets team that has not solved its defensive issues. The Clippers will once again win the turnover battle, hold their own on the glass, and pick up a fairly decisive win in game four.
Take the Clippers -6.5
Full-Game Total Pick
Insiders Status:
The total dropped ten points between games two and three, but the two teams still stayed under the number. The Clippers are dictating play in this series and have kept the vaunted Nuggets' offense at bay. After going over the number three times in the regular season series, the two teams have gone under the number in each of the three playoff games. With the line staying the same, I expect another low-scoring game that will be won by the Clippers.
Take the under.
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