The Los Angeles Clippers (39-19) challenge the Denver Nuggets (40-18) at the Staples Center. The game starts at 10:30 p.m. ET on Friday, February 28, 2020, and will air on ESPN.
The game’s Over/Under (O/U) opened at 218.5 points with Los Angeles set as a 6-point favorite at BetMGM NJ & Indiana Sportsbook.
Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Clippers Betting Prediction
The Nuggets will be hoping for similar success after covering the 13.5-point spread against the Detroit Pistons in their last game, 115-98. The game’s combined points (213) finished just over the O/U total of 212.5. The Nuggets, who came into the game averaging an effective field goal percentage of 0.528, had an absurd mark of 0.638 and had a free throw rate of 0.237 (above their season average of 0.181). With 29 points on 12-for-15 shooting, Jerami Grant was the top scorer from either team.
The last time the Clippers were in action, they were victorious over the Phoenix Suns, 102-92, covering as 7.5-point favorites. The combined points for the game (194) finished well under the O/U total of 233. Los Angeles’ effective field goal percentage was their biggest advantage over Phoenix. The Clippers had a rate of 0.524 (below their season average of 0.528), while the Suns posted a mark of 0.443 (below their season average of 0.525). Kawhi Leonard was Los Angeles’ high scorer with 24 points on 7-for-17 shooting from the field.
It will be a showdown of conflicting styles as the up-tempo Clippers (ranked eighth in the league in possessions per game) will look to push the slower-paced Nuggets (28th in possessions per game).
Denver is 40-18 straight up (SU), but they have a difficult time covering the spread (26-26-6 against the spread (ATS)). Nuggets games have gone under the O/U total 53.4 percent of the time.
Meanwhile, Los Angeles is 39-19 SU and 30-27-1 ATS. Of the Clippers’ 58 games, 33 have finished under the projected point total.
This is the second game of the season between these two teams. Leonard scored a game-high 30 points in the first matchup, in which the Clippers lost 114-104, unable to cover as 1-point underdogs. The game finished with a total of 218 points, which was just 2 points below the projected point total of 220 points. The Nuggets made 29 of their 37 free throws (78.4 percent) and had a better effective field goal percentage (0.552 vs. 0.500).
Nuggets vs. Clippers Pick
Pick: ATS Winner – Nuggets, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
Denver ranks fourth in assists per game (26.5) while Los Angeles ranks 17th (23.9).
Denver is 13-12-3 ATS on the road, while Los Angeles is 16-12-1 ATS at home.
Over its last five games, Denver is 2-3 ATS with 4 overs and 1 under.
Los Angeles is 2-3 ATS with 4 unders and 1 over over its last five games.
The Nuggets’ average margin of victory in their last five games has been 4.0, up from 3.9 for the season.
During their last five games, the Clippers have scored an average of 113.0 points per game (2.6 below their season average) and allowed an average of 110.4 points per game (0.6 above their season average).