Denver is gearing up to head to LA as they prepare to take on the Clippers in this exciting tied series! After an impressive comeback in game two, the Clippers are riding high on momentum. Even with Jokic leading the way, Denver has faced some challenges in finding their rhythm, so as they head into this crucial road game, they'll need to regroup quickly to stay competitive.
Michael Porter Jr Questionable
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The Clippers have been looking dangerous. Even though the series is tied, it feels like LA is in the lead. The Nuggets have been scraping by, but things have been tough. Murray hasn't been himself, Porter has been inconsistent as a scorer, and then there is Westbrook- somehow the villain and the hero in this story.
The Nuggets need to find someone else to truly step up because currently, they're just riding on Jokic's back. He can't do it alone; he's had some solid games, but playing 46 minutes per game is unsustainable. With the Denver bench so weak, it has to be one of the other starters. To have a chance in tonight's game, they'll need Murray, Braun, or Porter to be a much bigger offensive threat. If any of those guys can start hitting threes, then they'll be able to keep this game close.
For the Clippers, the formula is much simpler: keep relying on their defense. This roster is filled with strong defenders. Between Derrick Jones Jr, Batum, Dunn, and Leonard, they have point-of-attack defenders everywhere on this roster. It has made it challenging for anyone on the Nuggets to get going. The Clippers just need to maintain the pressure while allowing their stars to operate on offense. If they're able to keep feeding Harden and Leonard, they should win this game.
Overall, this should be a much closer game, but it feels like Denver is already on the ropes, winded. The roster just doesn't have the depth to go 7 rounds against a much more balanced group of players. They seem shorthanded, and the cracks in the roster construction are widening. Without a massive leap from someone on this team, I doubt they'll perform too well tonight in another tough game.
The Clippers are the stronger team in this matchup. With home-court advantage, a deeper roster, and the series momentum behind them, they're going to be difficult to beat. Of course, Jokic is never one to underestimate; he nearly beat the US in the Olympics by himself. However, I have little faith in the rest of the Denver roster, so even with the -200 + odds, I'm sticking with the Clips.
Money line: DEN (+185) / LAC (-225)
Total Points: 212.5
Spread: +5.5 DEN (-110) / -5.5 LAC (-110)
The Clippers are certainly looking like the favorites tonight! They have all the momentum as they head into this game, and they really seem to be the stronger team. Given that Denver has been having a tough time in this series, especially on their home court, it's hard to imagine they’ll be able to turn things around effectively on the road. Even though the odds on the money line for the Clippers aren't the best, this line feels quite solid!
Game two turned out to be a much lower-scoring affair compared to the first game in this series. However, we witnessed the combined total rise above 222, so we can see that these teams certainly have what it takes to score against each other. My only curious thought is whether they can achieve this without heading into overtime. I believe they can, especially if we get to see a bit more from the Denver offense. This line is going to be quite tight, but I feel positive about the over!
I'm really favoring the Clippers tonight! Even with that 5.5 point spread, I believe they’ll handle business well and establish a strong lead by the 4th quarter. Unless the Nuggets can sink their threes and steer clear of the defense's grasp, I have faith in LA to make it happen.
After an epic Game 2 from Kawhi, where he scored 39 points, playoff Kawhi is here! It’s clear that the Denver defense can’t keep up with him either. He was all over the place, shooting an impressive 15-19 from the field. With the line set at 25.5, he’ll have an excellent chance to lead the Clippers again in points, even if he’s not as incredibly efficient.
Gordon has become a surprisingly vital part of the offense. He scored 25 points in the first game and 14 in the second, but he has been getting a solid number of attempts. With MPJ questionable to play tonight, he could have seen an even larger number of attempts, which would give him a great chance of hitting this line!
Zubac has been a rebounding machine all year, averaging 12.6 rebounds per game during the regular season. Nothing has really changed, as he’s still dominating the boards against the Nuggets, but 13 does feel a tad high. He did hit that line in Game One but fell short in Game Two. This will be a coin flip line, but the under looks a little better to me.
It’s challenging to bet on the under for Harden’s assist numbers, but I believe it’s the right choice tonight. Given how impressive Kawhi looked in the last game, we might see the ball in his hands again if Denver fails to make the necessary adjustments. If that occurs, I think we’ll see Harden fall short of the 10-assist mark once more. He only managed 7 in game two, so this line appears solid.