Los Angeles Clippers vs. Denver Nuggets Predictions, Picks, Odds

Michael Crosson Sports Betting Expert

4 minute read

Nationally televised NBA coverage will conclude on Wednesday night with a meaningful Western Conference showdown between the Los Angeles Clippers and Denver Nuggets. Coverage begins from Ball Arena at 10:00 p.m. ET on ESPN.

SCORE PREDICTION

Nuggets 112, Clippers 103

BEST BETS

Nuggets -7 (-110) at WynnBet

LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS VS. DENVER NUGGETS PREDICTIONS

After finishing third in the West with a record of 47-25 SU last year, Denver kept that same ball rolling with another excellent start to this season, as the Nuggets opened with a solid 9-4 SU and 7-6 ATS run – which included impressive upset victories over the Suns, Jazz, Grizzlies, and Heat.

The Nuggets have looked like a shell of that squad since their opening stretch though, considering Denver is just 13-16 SU and 11-18 ATS across the last 29 games – with 11 of those SU losses coming by 10+ PTS.

On the other hand, the Clippers posted a strong start to the season despite the absence of five-time All-Pro Kawhi Leonard, as L. A. kicked things off with a solid 17-15 SU run – with ten of those SU victories coming by double-digits.

L. A. has disappointed at both ends of the floor since Paul George’s latest injury though, considering the Clippers are just 5-8 SU and 6-7 ATS in the last 13 games – while averaging 103.3 PPG offensively and surrendering 109 PPG defensively across that span.

I’ll lay the points with Denver here, as L. A. has been far too difficult to trust since P.G.’s latest injury, with the Clippers averaging just 103 PPG across their current 5-8 SU skid – setting the stage for a tough road matchup against a Nuggets squad that’s averaging 113 PPG across their last six contests.

LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS VS. DENVER NUGGETS BETTING ODDS

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LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS VS. DENVER NUGGETS BETTING RESOURCES

• Matchup: Pacific vs. Northwest
• Date: Wednesday, January 19, 2022
• Venue: Ball Arena
• Location: Denver, Colorado
• TV-Time: ESPN - 10:00 p.m. ET
• Injury Report

LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS BETTING ANALYSIS

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 22-23
• ATS: 20-25
• O/U: 19-26

Most lost faith in L. A. after Kawhi’s devastating knee injury last year – but it turns out, the Clippers are still a solid team without him, considering they decisively handled business against Utah for the remainder of their second-round series, and then went toe-to-toe with Phoenix for the length of a competitive six-game conference final set.

The same cannot be said when George is also removed from the equation though, considering the Clippers are just 5-8 SU and 6-7 ATS since PG’s latest injury, while scoring 106 PTS or less in nine of those matchups (103 PPG) – and surrendering 106+ PTS in eight (109 PPG).

DENVER NUGGETS BETTING ANALYSIS

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 22-20
• ATS: 18-24
• O/U: 22-20

Despite the extended absence of Jamal Murray, Denver has played solid basketball so far this season, as the Nuggets currently hover at 6th place in the West with a record of 22-20 SU – pacing the Clippers, Lakers, and Timberwolves all by less than two games.

The Nuggets have experienced their fair share of additional health issues, considering Michael Porter Jr., P.J. Dozier, Austin Rivers, and Bol Bol all joined Murray on the sidelines recently. Denver always serves as a legitimate offensive threat with reigning MVP Nikola Jokic healthy though, highlighted by the Nuggets tallying 120+ PTS in three of their last six games (113 PPG).

LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS VS. DENVER NUGGETS HEAD-TO-HEAD

The Nuggets won two-of-three regular-season matchups against the Clippers last year, with both of Denver’s victories staying under the total at an average of 204.5 PPG – while L. A.’s lone victory soared over with a score of 121-108.

Denver and L. A. split their first two matchups of this season 1-1 though, with both of those contests staying well under the total at an average 187.5 PPG.

KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH

• LAC: Reggie Jackson - PG (18.7 PPG, 4, REB, 4.4 AST)
• LAC: Luke Kennard - SG (11.7 PPG, 3.4 REB, 2.1 AST)
• DEN: Nikola Jokic - C (25.3 PPG, 13.9 REB, 7.4 AST)
• DEN: Will Barton - SF (15.2 PPG, 4.8 REB, 4.1 AST)

LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS VS. DENVER NUGGETS BETTING CONCLUSION

After falling to Utah on the second half of a back-to-back on Sunday night, the Nuggets enter Wednesday’s contest as narrow home favorites over the visiting Clippers – marking the seventh time L. A. has been an underdog across the last eight games.

I’ll lay the points with Denver here, as the Nuggets are 4-2 SU across their last six games, while racking up an average of 113 PPG across that timeframe – likely serving as a steep uphill battle for a Clippers squad that’s averaging just 103 PPG since the absence of George.

LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS VS. DENVER NUGGETS BETTING TRENDS

• The Clippers are 2-6 SU in their last eight matchups against Denver.
• The total has gone UNDER in six of the last seven matchups between the Nuggets and Clippers.
• The total has gone UNDER in four of the last five Clippers' games.
• The Clippers are 1-4 ATS in their last five road games.

Michael Crosson

Michael Crosson began his time at VegasInsider as a freelance NBA writer back in 2019 while he continued to study Psychology and Biology at James Madison University. Following his graduation in 2021, Michael joined the team full-time, and he's been with VI ever since. Michael still writes NBA, NFL, and MLB for VI, as well as gambling industry news. He's also become a crucial part of our editorial production team. More from Michael Crosson